J-K BJP leaders meet Amit Shah over Masarat Alam's release

Amidst growing strains between alliance partners in Jammu and Kashmir over the release of separatist leader Masarat Alam, a delegation of BJP leaders on Tuesday briefed party chief Amit Shah about the prevailing situation in the state.

Amid growing strain between alliance partners in Jammu and Kashmir over the release of separatist leader Masarat Alam, a delegation of BJP leaders on Tuesday briefed party chief Amit Shah about the situation in the state.

Shah had summoned deputy chief minister Nirmal Singh, state BJP chief Jugal Kishore Sharma and others to Delhi for a stock taking exercise.

Shah, sources said, heard the state BJP leaders and asked them to strongly oppose any such move in future. “We cannot compromise on our stand related to terrorism and separatism,” Shah is understood to have communicated to the BJP leaders.

Still, BJP sources claimed, pulling the plug on the alliance government was ruled out immediately and said the party had communicated to its ally, the PDP, that consequences would follow any similar steps if taken again. Shah had spoken to chief minister Mufti Mohammad Sayeed on Monday. The deputy CM had also called on the CM yesterday.

“We understand it was legally difficult to keep Alam under detention any more. But there is a problem of perception and fear about political fallout. All these were discussed with J-K leader and their feedback taken,” a senior BJP leader said.

Meanwhile, home minister Rajnath Singh on Tuesday said his government’s top priority was national security and not the continuance of government in Jammu and Kashmir where the BJP is an alliance partner with the PDP.

Singh said, “My government will not compromise with national security at any cost. For us any government, whether in alliance or not, that is not our priority. Our priority is country and its security. You should understand this intention of ours.”