Nitish Kumar blames BJP for release of jailed separatist leader

PATNA: Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar today blamed BJP for the release of jailed separatist leader Masarat Alam in Jammu and Kashmir and said that the saffron party was "responsible" for whatever was happening there.

"The BJP is responsible for whatever is happening in Jammu and Kashmir today. We have been continuously saying that the alliance of BJP-PDP to form a government there is the philosophical demise of Shyama Prasad Mukherjee, the founder of Bharatiya Jansangh," Kumar said.

"BJP cannot absolve itself from the things that are happening there, as it is their government in alliance with PDP. It will have to answer the issues that have cropped up there and are rocking the entire country," Kumar added.

The Bihar Chief Minister was talking to mediapersons on the sidelines of a function organised in the state capital on the occasion of International Women's Day.

Kumar pointed out that Mukherjee had advocated "one flag, one constitution" for the entire country.

"But the leaders of BJP have killed his philosophy and thoughts this time in Jammu and Kashmir by forming an alliance with PDP for power," he said.

Alam, the leader of the hardline-faction of Hurriyat, who had spearheaded the stone-pelting agitations in the Valley in 2008 and 2010, was released from prison following the new government's policy of freeing political prisoners who do not face criminal charges.

Alam, also the Muslim League chairman, was released yesterday after four and half years of detention.