The Hindu : National : BJP warns Centre against diluting Armed Forces Act

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Monday, Sep 13, 2010
ePaper | Mobile/PDA Version

National

National

BJP warns Centre against diluting Armed Forces Act

Special Correspondent

NEW DELHI: A day before the meeting of the Cabinet Committee on Security to discuss the Kashmir situation, the Bharatiya Janata Party warned the Centre on Sunday against diluting the Armed Forces Special Powers Act (AFSPA), arguing that such a move would demoralise the forces.

“The BJP would like to warn the government that any attempt to weaken the AFSPA is unacceptable. No attempt should be made under political pressure to compromise the morale of the security forces who sacrificed their lives while fighting terrorists and ensuring security,” BJP spokesman Ravi Shankar Prasad told reporters here.

Mr. Prasad said the Centre should give due importance to the assessment of the security forces and reject ad hoc assessments based primarily on political considerations.

Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah has been pressing the Centre to withdraw the Act from some areas of the State.

The situation in the Valley had turned critical, Mr. Prasad said, and the BJP saw a pattern in the violence “orchestrated” by Inter-Services Intelligence-backed handlers from across the border.

Mr. Prasad deplored the absence of Mr. Abdullah from the State on Eid when a fresh bout of violence rocked the Valley. “It is indeed unfortunate and regrettable that the Chief Minister, instead of controlling the violence in Srinagar, chose to spend time in Delhi.”

He said the real face of the separatists and the Hurriyat emerged on Eid when government buildings were torched. “Even the Pakistani flag was unfurled at Lal Chowk in Srinagar, while the separatists went to the extent of demanding ‘azadi' and merger of Kashmir with Pakistan.”

Printer friendly page
Send this article to Friends by E-Mail