Will continue my struggle: Alam

Speaking to IBNS, he said: "When it is for the cause of Kashmir’s Freedom I am ready to spend my whole life in jail and the struggle will continue till the complete demilitarization of the region."

Muslim League Chairman Masarat Alam was arrested by the Omar Abdullah -led J&K  government on Oct 18, 2010 on charges of issuing protest calendars on directions of Hurriyat Hardliner Syed Ali Geelani, when Kashmir was witnessing a huge turmoil over killing of scores of youths by the government forces.

According to Alam, Hurriyat leadership is playing a key role in the resistance movement of Kashmir and is always ready to discuss the issue with the Indian government.

While expressing a concern over the arrest of separatist leaders in the state, Alam said, “To thwart the freedom struggle of Kashmir, Indian authorities have been unconditionally arresting the separatist leadership.”

“Freedom is the birth right of every nation” he said.

While expressing his firm stand against the Indian occupation of Kashmir, he said, “India has to accept the disputed nature of the territory and also order a fair probe against the killing of thousands of innocent Kashmiris by Indian forces and there is nothing that can stop us from struggling freedom for Kashmir."

While taking a dig at Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Mufti Mohammad Sayeed', he said, “My release has nothing to do with PDP’s coming in power and my release has come up on the directions of High court after following a proper legal process. The PDP has now come in alliance with the BJP which is a part of the RSS who have always been hell-bent to change the demography of the state.”

“Time and again we have been back-stabbed by the pro-Indian leaders and the PDP has done the same,” he added.

Alam has also expressed his grief over the hanging of Parliament-attack convict Afzal Guru in 2013.

“During his execution I was languishing in Kuthua jail and had no communication for condoling the hanging of Afzal Guru. It showed the worst face of the Indian democracy that Afzal Guru was executed secretly without letting his family members to meet him for the  last time. I am unable to understand why Indian government is not returning his remains to his family," he said

While expressing concern over splitting of Hurriyat Conference, he said, “To me, it is a very serious issue and a matter of concern and I hope all the issues of differences will be resolved very soon."

Meanwhile, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday said the Central government was not consulted by the Jammu and Kashmir government over the issue of release of separatist leader Masarat 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."

The Opposition parties created ruckus in the Parliament over the release of separatist leader Masarat Alam from a prison in Jammu and Kashmir last week.

(Reporting by Saleem Iqbal Qadri )