FILE photo: Separatist leader Masarat Alam
Kashmiri separatist Masarat Alam's release from jail - which has led to a major political row - was initiated when Jammu and Kashmir was under central rule, letters accessed exclusively by NDTV reveal.
Two letters show that the state's Mufti Mohammad Sayeed government, which took power on March 1, had no direct role in the separatist's release. This contradicts the Centre and Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who on Monday said that the state government led by his ally had not consulted his government. "I share the opposition's aakrosh (anger)," he said in Parliament.
In a letter on February 4, the state's Home Secretary Suresh Kumar told the Jammu District Magistrate that an order detaining the separatist under the Public Safety Act had become void as it had not been confirmed in time by the state Home Department.
When the Home Department asked whether there was any fresh ground for detaining Masarat Alam, the district magistrate replied in the negative.
Despite the alert in February, no fresh charges were brought against Alam during the 49-day governor's rule. The governor and the police both report to the union home ministry, which raises the question whether Home Minister Rajnath Singh was briefed properly before his statement in Parliament blaming the separatist's release on the state government.
In a letter on March 4, three days after the PDP-BJP government took power, the Jammu district magistrate wrote to the police saying Alam's preventive detention had "not been approved by the government" and he should be released.
The hardline separatist, accused of spearheading the 2010 stone-throwing protests and jailed repeatedly under the Public Security Act, was freed on Saturday.
"It amounts to misleading the house. Government must present true facts in the house," said BSP leader Mayawati.
The controversy has strained the days-old alliance between ideological opposites PDP and the BJP. Sources say the PDP may have been silent on the details, despite the BJP's strong displeasure, as it does not want to lose credit for what it calls a "reconciliation effort" to engage Kashmiri separatists for peace.
NDTV EXCLUSIVE: Jammu and Kashmir Home Secretary's letter to District Magistrate, Jammu
NDTV EXCLUSIVE: Jammu District Magistrate's letter to Senior Superintendent of Police, Jammu