Opposition led by Congress on Monday created uproar in Rajya Sabha over the release of separatist leader Masarat Alam

by the PDP-BJP government in Jammu and Kashmir demanding a clarification from Prime Minister Narendra Modi on the issue.

Congress, TMC, JD-U and BSP raised the issue when the House met for the day, calling it a serious issue with implications on national security and demanded suspension of business to take up the issue.

Deputy Chairman P J Kurien disallowed the motion but Congress members continued to press for a statement from Prime Minister and stormed into the well of the House, forcing adjournment of proceedings for 15 minutes.

Mir Mohammad Fayaz (PDP) criticised Congress for raising the issue now when it did not utter a word when the PDP- Congress coalition in 2002 released Hurriyat leaders Geelani, Shabir Shah and Yaseen Malik.

Fayaz alleged that Leader of the Opposition Ghulam Nabi Azad of Congress had compromised on principles to get elected to Rajya Sabha even as five Congress MLAs had voiced similar views as PDP on the hanging of Afzal Guru.

Azad rebutted the charge saying 3-4 MLAs had in response to a statement by chief spokesperson of PDP, who is now a minister, stated that on humanitarian grounds the family should have been allowed to meet Afzal Guru and his body should be handed over to them.

As Kurien disallowed the motion, Congress members rushed into the Well of the House raising slogans like aatankwadi ko chhodnewalon, sharam karo, sharam karo (shame on people releasing terrorist).

Continued vociferous protests by Congress members deterred External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj to make a statement on Tamil fishermen issue raised by JD-U's K C Tyagi.

Kurien tried to restore order in the House saying it was unfair on part of Congress to not allow others to raise their issues. As Congress members kept shouting slogans in the Well demanding statements from the Prime Minister and Home Minister Rajnath Singh, an apparently exasperated Deputy Chairman P J Kurien criticised them for not allowing others to raise issues. Minister of State for Parliamentary Affairs Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi tried to persuade the Opposition members by assuring them that Home Minister will clear their doubts on the issue.

However, with the noisy protests continuing, Kurien adjourned the House till noon.