Updated

Ghaziabad, Mar 10 (PTI): Amid the raging controversy over release of a Kashmiri separatist leader, Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh today asserted that his government's top priority was national security and not the continuance of the government in the state where BJP is an alliance partner.

His remarks come a day after the Prime Minister made it clear in Parliament that release of separatist leader Masarat Alam was not acceptable and that the government won't tolerate any compromise with the nation's integrity.

"My government will not compromise with national security at any cost. For us any government, whether in alliance or not, that is not our priority.Our priority is country and its security. You should understand this intention of ours.

"I will only make only one statement as of now, as I had said in Parliament yesterday. For us, government is not the priority but for us country is priority and it is topmost," he said.

"You should understand this fact and I think everything is encapsulated in this statement," Singh said on the sidelines of the 46th Raising Day of central security force CISF here.

Singh maintained that he was not satisfied with the official version that the state government sent to his Ministry earlier on this subject.

"I will not say anything now. As I said in Parliament yesterday, I am not fully satisfied with the version of Jammu and Kashmir government on this issue.I have sought some information...clarifications on the issue from the state government and only after getting something from there, I will comment," he told reporters here.

He also dismissed reports that Mufti had talked to him on the subject."I have not talked to the Chief Minister of Jammu and Kashmir (Mufti Mohammad Sayeed) in the last about three years or so... not before oath or after that," he said.

Members in both Lok Sabha and Rajya have expressed "outrage" over the release of the separatist leader, calling the development as "anti-national" and dangerous to the country's integrity. They have also dared BJP to pull out of the Mufti Mohammad Sayeed-led government on the issue.

Earlier Report

Oppn targets Govt over reports to release 800 more separatists

New Delhi, Mar 10 (PTI): Opposition parties today sought to corner the government over reports that the Jammu and Kashmir government was planning to release 800 more separatists and sought to know if the state's Governor has mentioned this in his report to the Centre.

After Naresh Agarwal (SP) and others raised the issue in Rajya Sabha, Finance Minister Arun Jaitley said government was ready to respond to any specific case brought to its notice.

When the House met, Agrawal said he had given a notice under Rule 267 for suspension of business to take up the issue of reports claiming that J&K Governor in a report to Centre has said the state government planned to release 800 more separatists in a day or two.

He wanted to know if the Governor had sent any such report and whether he had signed the release order of separatist Masarat Alam. The Hurriyat leader was released from prison three days ago.

Agarwal also wanted to know whether the Centre could give an assurance that no more separatists will be released by the Mufti Mohammad Sayeed government in Jammu and Kashmir.

Rajeev Shukla (Cong) also sought to know if the orders for Alam's release were signed by the Governor and if they were issued when the state was under President's rule.

AIADMK members claimed 10,000 separatist prisoners are about to be released in Jammu and Kashmir.

Jaitley said Home Minister Rajnath Singh had yesterday made it absolutely clear that he had certain reservations about the report received from the state government on the release of one separatist and had sought more information.

Deputy Chairman P J Kurien rejected the notice for suspension of business since the same issue was discussed threadbare yesterday and Home Minister had given his reply.

Kurien said the SP leader could give notice under different rules if he had any new information on the issue.

Taking strong exception to statements that 10,000 prisoners are being released, Jaitley said, "are you telling the world that we have kept 10,000 political prisoners... you have to have some sense of responsiblity (while making such statements)."

Alam had several cases against him and was granted bail by court in some of them, he said, adding the government will respond if any specific case of another separatist being released is brought to its notice.

Maintaining that the government will "find out and give response" if a specific case was given, he said "let a notice be given with authentic facts. The House cannot be media-driven."

Agarwal however continued to insist on his notice and found support from some Congress members.

The issue consumed nearly half of the Zero Hour before order was restored and other issues taken up.

Earlier CPI(M) member P Rajeeve objected to the listing of the Motor Vehicles (Amendment) Bill, 2015 and Coal Mines (Special Provisions) Bill, 2015 saying the Business Advisory Committee of the House had not allotted time for the same.

Jaitley responded saying BAC had allotted 20 hours for government business and the two bills were to be discussed within the allotted time.

Kurien said the House is supreme and can always allot time even if BAC does not provision any.