Even prime minister Narendra Modi's rap has failed to deter Mufti Mohammad Sayeed-led coalition government from announcing release of more political prisoners in Jammu and Kashmir.
Even prime minister Narendra Modi's rap has failed to deter Mufti Mohammad Sayeed-led coalition government from announcing release of more political prisoners in Jammu and Kashmir.
Unfazed by the criticism over the release of face of 2010 `azadi' groundswell Masarat Alam Bhat, People's Democratic Party (PDP) on Monday said they would not keep people in jails and shall continue with releasing the political prisoners as a part of their healing touch policy.
"Our policy is not keeping people in jails beyond the call of law. That is our policy and there is nothing new about it. Everyone knows that we will pursue this policy. So we will not keep anybody in jail unless it is required by law," Naeem Akthar, J&K education minister and PDP chief spokesman, told dna.
Akthar also urged its alliance partner BJP to appreciate their efforts in a bid to give a sense of participation to the people of Jammu and Kashmir. "It should not strain (the relationship with BJP). They should appreciate what we are trying to do. We are trying to give a sense of participation to the people of Jammu and Kashmir that they are party to this democratic project of the country," he said.
The J&K education minister blamed former chief ministers Ghulam Nabi Azad and Omar Abdullah of reversing their healing touch policy.
"We started it in 2002. They had kept everyone in jails. We released Syed Ali Shah Geelani and others. Former prime minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee was all praise for this healing touch policy…Unfortunately, both Azad and Omar reversed it. Now we are at a situation that if in a routine you release someone and there is national hue and cry," he said.
Akthar said people of Jammu and Kashmir deserve a place of honour and dignity in a democratic system of the country. "They want to change the perception because people deserve honour and dignity," he said.
Omar Abdullah's National Conference, however, is not amused and described the tensions between BJP and PDO as "fixed tiffs and drama".
"PDP stands completely exposed for its ideology-devoid hunger for power at any cost. All moral, ideological pretensions of the party have turned out to be lies and PDP's political obliteration is only a matter of time now. No amount of distractions and smokescreens will hide PDP's historic sell-out," said Junaid Mattu, NC spokesman.
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