Srinagar: The new People's Democratic Party (PDP)-Congress government in Jammu and
Kashmir on November 14 defended its decision to release separatist leaders saying it
was a "goodwill gesture" aimed at making the situation in the state more peaceful.
"Release of separatist leaders has been done as a goodwill gesture aimed at making
the situation peaceful in the state as the government does not believe in keeping
citizens in the jails unnecessarily, Deputy Chief Minister Mangat Ram Sharma told a
two-member British delegation, currently on a tour of the Valley.
Sharma, a veteran Congress leader, told the delegation comprising David Quarrey,
First Secretary (political) British High Commission, and Tim Summers of Cabinet
secretariat, that the new government was committed to provide people a friendly
administration.
The officers have been asked to ensure that benefits of various schemes reach the
deserving people at grass roots level, Sharma told the diplomats adding that the
PDP-led
coalition government has the backing of leader of Opposition and Congress president
Sonia Gandhi as well as full support of the Central government.
The Congress is under attack for supporting the release of political prisoners from
the BJP, which says the move "would send a negative signal and undermine the entire
effort to fight insurgency and terror."
PTI
