Separatist Masarat Alam's release: Will take up all issues with PDP at Cabinet meet, says BJP

JAMMU: At loggerheads with its ruling alliance partner PDP over the release of separatist leader Masarat Alam, BJP said that all contentious issues would be thoroughly discussed at the first meeting of the Jammu and Kashmir Cabinet scheduled here today.

"All the issues will be discussed at the Cabinet meeting," J-K Deputy Chief Minister Nirmal Singh told reporters here today while responding to a question on the release of Alam and the rest of the militants whose release is under review by the government.

Today's meeting would be the first held by the J-K Cabinet after the PDP-BJP government took oath of office earlier this month.

Meanwhile, seeking to downplay the disagreement between his party and BJP over the issue, senior PDP leader and J-K Minister for Revenue, Javed Mustaffa Mir, said that, as allies, the two parties were open to engaging in discussions.

"We are coalition partners and are open to discussion -- there is no thick line," he said, adding that Alam was released on court orders and there was no big issue about it.