New Delhi:
Upset over the release of separatist leader Masarat Alam in Jammu and Kashmir, BJP today gave an “ultimatum” to its ally PDP, asserting it will not tolerate such acts and there will be no compromise with national security.
According to highly-placed party sources, the BJP central leadership has conveyed to the PDP top brass that remaining in power in the state is not a priority for the party and that it will not allow any further deviation from the common minimum programme set by the two parties after days of mutual discussions.
Dashing to Delhi, Jammu and Kashmir Deputy Chief Minister and BJP leader Nirmal Singh met party chief Amit Shah at the latter’s residence and apprised him of the situation in the state in the wake of the release of the separatist leader on Saturday last.
After the meeting, highly-placed BJP sources said a terse warning has been given to PDP top brass that “any such unilateral action will not be tolerated any more”.
“BJP’s central leadership has given an ultimatum to the PDP top brass that it will not tolerate any further compromise on national security with the unilateral release of Masarat Alam,” the sources said.
They said the BJP top brass is angry over Masarat’s “unilateral” release by PDP without consultations with BJP and warned that it will not allow any more such releases of separatists or militants.
The BJP central leadership has conveyed to the PDP that “remaining in power is not a priority for BJP and it will not allow any laxity on the issue of national security and in dealing with separatists and militants”, the sources said.
BJP has said there should be no further release of militants or political prisoners in Jammu and Kashmir without proper consultations between the two allies.
The party also said it had a “zero-tolerance policy towards terrorism and separatism” and strongly opposed Alam’s release.
As Opposition stepped up the heat, Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh also made it clear that his government’s top priority is national security and not the continuance of government in the state.
BJP is sharing power with PDP in Jammu and Kashmir after the December assembly elections threw a fractured verdict.
