A ruckus over the release from prison of a man who led one of the biggest revolts against the Indian military in Kashmir is adding to mounting problems for Prime Minister Narendra Modi as he tries to push economic reform through parliament.
The lower house of parliament was temporarily adjourned yesterday after opposition parties demanded to know why separatist leader Masarat Alam Bhat was released at the weekend by Kashmir’s state government, which Modi’s nationalist party supports.
“I am angered and condemn the release, just like other lawmakers,” Modi said in parliament.” Modi swept to office ten months ago promising rapid economic transformation but disparate opposition parties have united to block his agenda, forcing the government to rely on executive orders called ordinances to pass unpopular policies.
With two weeks remaining of the current session of parliament before a recess, the government needs to win support for ordinances, including those raising the foreign direct investment limit in the insurance sector, or they will expire.