Hurriyat leader Masrat Alam issue to rock Parliament today

NEW DELHI: The release of Hurriyat leader Masrat Alam is set to rock Parliament on Monday with several parties planning to disrupt both Houses of Parliament and demanding a discussion on why this decision to set free a separatist was taken by the PDP-BJP government in J&K.

Congress has led the opposition parties in condemning the decision to release Alam even as sections within BJP and RSS are unhappy at this move of J&K CM Mufti Mohammad Sayeed.

Alam’s release has come as an embarrassment for BJP since it is a part of the coalition regime in the state.

Notices for moving an Adjournment Motion in the Lok Sabha to discuss the issue during Question Hour have been given by parties including Congress, SP, JD(U) and others. Similarly, notices for suspension of Question Hour to discuss the issue have been given by several opposition parties in the Rajya Sabha. Since Zero Hour is held at 11 am when the Rajya Sabha meets for the day, a discussion on the Alam release controversy is likely to take place during this time, sources said.

BJP leaders were huddled in meetings to discuss ways of dealing with the opposition onslaught. While blaming the release on judicial process is an option being explored, government sources conceded setting free a separatist leader would be difficult to defend.