No compromise over tiol issues: BJP

NEW DELHI, April 17: The BJP on Friday said that there would be no compromise on “certain basic principles” while dealing with issues of tiol importance like separatist leader Masrat Alam and others raising pro-Pakistan slogans and waiving its flag.

The NDA government at the Centre follows a “zero tolerance policy against terrorism and separatism”, Minister of State in the Prime Minister’s Office Jitendra Singh told reporters here.

The minister clarified that the Bharatiya Jata Party (BJP) would not be under any pressure “merely for existence in the governce or a coalition”.

“Nobody can go away with this impression that merely for existence in the governce or in a coalition, the BJP would be ready to compromise on any of these principles,” he said.

The minister, however, said the Jammu and Kashmir government has been taking action and the issue is being looked into.

Masrat Alam, who was placed under house arrest on Thursday night, is under police detention in Badgam district of the state where a police complaint was lodged against him over raising pro-Pakistan solgans and waiving its flag on April 15.

Another separatist leader, Syed Ali Geelani was also placed under house arrest.

Over two dozen people, including security personnel, were injured in Srigar on Friday when protesters fought a pitched battle with security forces after Friday prayers over separatist leader Alam’s detention. Union Home Minister Rajth Singh said Alam will be sent to jail. The Congress said the state government had acted only after the issue was raised by the media.

On March 7, the Jammu and Kashmir government released Masrat Alam from preventive detention after more than four years.

He was arrested during the 2010 unrest in the Kashmir Valley. He was accused of inciting youth during the unrest, leading to clashes between mobs and security forces in which at least 112 people were killed. IANS