Nothing wrong in the release of Alam: PDP retorts to Modi

"We are part of a democracy and very proud of it. So people of Jammu and Kashmir are also entitled to their democratic rights. We can't keep people in jails illegally for life,"  Nayeem Akhtar, senior PDP leader and a close aide of chief minister Mufti Mohammad Sayeed, said.

He  said Alam was released by a high court about six times in the past but was always re-arrested under fresh charges.

"We have nothing to do with it, his release was part of a judicial process. We can't keep a person languishing in jail forever even after the courts have released him," he said.

"In March 2013, a Supreme Court ruling in the Masarat Alam case said that he cannot be illegally detained, and upheld the high court's decision quashing his detention," Akhtar added.

Earlier in the day, Parliament witnessed a ruckus as the opposition raised the issue.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi said the Central government was not consulted by the Jammu and Kashmir government over the issue of release of  Alam from prison last week.

In his statement in the Lok Sabha, Modi said: "I also lending my voice to the outrage that has been displayed in the country and in the House today...This aakrosh (anger) is not about any party or this bench or that bench. It is about the nation."

He said: "I am assuring the nation that there is no compromise on the unity of the country."

"We are not going to tolerate any step which undermines the unity of the country," he said.

Speaking further on the issue, he said: "We asked for a clarification from the state government on the issue of Masrat Alam's release and when it comes we will inform you on the matter."

Reacting to the  PM's statement, "the Prime Minister was entitled to an opinion but the state government had done nothing against law".

Alam was released from Baramulla jail on March 7 after five years of detention as part of the state government's initiative to release political prisoners facing no criminal charges.