Congress attacks PM on release of Hurriyat leader Alam

Asks Modi to come clean on his stand over the 'continuous adventurism' of the PDP-BJP govt

Slamming the release of hardline Hurriyat leader Masrath Alam, the Congress today asked Prime Minister Narendra Modi to come clean on his stand over the "continuous adventurism" of the PDP-BJP government in Jammu and Kashmir which was "endangering" the peace in the Valley.

"We strongly condemn the release of Masrath Alam. Prime Minister and BJP must answer as to why peaceful atmosphere of Jammu & Kashmir is being sought to be disturbed by successive unilateral moves by PDP-BJP government," AICC Communication Department in-charge Randip Surjewala said.

He recalled that the J&K Chief Minister within an hour of swearing in of the PDP-BJP government, had thanked the separatists, terrorists and Pakistan for peaceful polls instead of thanking the valour of people of Jammu & Kashmir, security forces and Election Commission.

"Release of Masrath Alam, principal propagator of stone pelters, further endangers the hard-earned peace in Jammu and Kashmir (achieved) by determined resolve of people of Jammu and Kashmir as also our security forces," he said.

Alam, the leader of the hardline-faction of Hurriyat, who had spearheaded the stone-pelting agitations in the Valley in 2008 and 2010, was released from prison following the new government's policy of freeing political prisoners who do not face criminal charges.

Surjewala demanded that the Prime Minister answer to the nation whether he subscribes to such "ill-thought remarks and adventurism" by his party's coalition government in Jammu and Kashmir.

Another Congress leader Manish Tewari took to Twitter to slam the government on the issue. Former Youth Congress chief and party MP Rajeev Satav also attacked the government.

"Release of Masrath Alam (arrested u/s 121) proves that BJP has taken massive #UTurn.Modi ji shud give statement," he said.