Farooq criticises govt over Masarat Alam’s detention

Tribune News Service

Anantnag/Jammu, April 24

National Conference patron and former Union Minister Farooq Abdullah today criticised the state government over separatist leader Masarat Alam’s detention under the Public Safety Act (PSA).

In an obvious reference to the ruling PDP, Farooq said: “They have been maintaining that they won’t slap PSA against people and will bring about a positive change in Kashmir.”

“Now that they have slapped PSA against Alam, they are answerable to the people of Kashmir for doing so,” he said.

Farooq was talking to reporters during his visit to former NC MLC Dr Bashir Ahmad Shah Veeri’s house in south Kashmir’s Anantnag district to condole the death of his father.

The NC leader urged the state government to stop getting innocent people killed and said: “Slapping PSA against people will not make the atmosphere conducive and peaceful.”

Muslim League chairman Masarat Alam was on Thursday taken to the Kot Bhalwal Jail in Jammu after being booked under the PSA.

Meanwhile, Congress Legislature Party leader Nawang Ringzin Jora today said Chief Minister Mufti Mohammad Sayeed’s bluff had been called as he had been forced to slap PSA on separatist leader Masarat Alam.

“So much for the so called battle of ideas….This was bound to happen because in trying to project himself as a statesman Mufti ended up biting more than he could chew,” Jora said.“He forgets that he has tied the knot, not with Vajpayee, but with Narendra Modi, whose image is that of an intolerant hardliner,” he said.