Masarat Alam's release not discussed in J&K cabinet meeting

JAMMU: The release of separatist leader Masarat Alam did not figure in the first cabinet meeting of the PDP-BJP coalition Jammu and Kashmir government today, despite BJP saying earlier that it would raise the issue in the meeting.

The cabinet meeting, chaired by Chief Minister Mufti Mohmmad Sayeed, discussed only the Governor's address to joint session of Legislature at Civil Secretariat.

"Only Governor's address was discussed in the cabinet meeting. It passed in conducive and peaceful atmosphere," a senior officer in the Chief Minister's Office said.

"The Masarat issue or the release of the political prisoners was not discussed at all in the meeting," BJP Minister in the government Chander Prakash Ganga told PTI.

"We only wanted more issues to the included in the Governor's address. In the next meeting, after the inclusion of some more items, it will be passed by cabinet," he said.

Earlier, Deputy Chief Minister and BJP's Nirmal Singh had said that all contentious issues would be discussed in the cabinet meeting.

"All the issues will be discussed at the Cabinet meeting," Singh told reporters while responding to a question on the release of Alam and other separatist leaders whose release is under review by the government.