Bharatiya Janata Party legislators in Jammu and Kashmir today lodged a strong protest with Chief Minister Mufti Mohammad Sayeed over the release of hardline separatist leader Masarat Alam and demanded his re-arrest. The party also took exception to the "misinformation campaign" that the decision to release Alam was taken after consulting it.   

The MLAs led by state BJP General Secretary Rajiv Jasrotia met Sayeed at his residence and submitted a memorandum. "We have lodged a strong protest with the chief minister and expressed our deep concern over the unilateral decision (of release of the Masarat Alam)," Jasrotia told reporters later.   

He said that Sayeed assured them that their concerns would be addressed.   The BJP also asked Sayeed to consider re-arrest of Alam in view of the statements made by him soon after his release in Kashmir.