Even after witnessing two back-to-back fidayeen strikes in Kathua and Samba districts of Jammu region Chief Minister Mufti Mohd Sayeed is bent upon pressing the issue of revocation of Armed Forces Special Powers Act (AFSPA) from peaceful areas of the State.
On Monday Mufti Sayeed once again parroted the demand of phased revocation of AFSPA from the floor of the legislative council inviting sharp criticism from BJP legislators.
Speaking on the motion of thanks on the Governor’s address in the Upper House Mufti said, “During unified headquarters meeting in Jammu, Army core commanders had shared some of their reservations and while discussing the issue I told them we will gradually revoke the AFSPA from peaceful areas of the State”.
“I told them I will not jump. We will see how we can find a way out to first de-notify the Disturbed Areas Act from certain areas.” “Touching AFPSA at this moment is like playing with the fire as the entire State is dealing with militant violence. Tell me which are the peaceful districts of the State where militancy related violence is not taking place, BJP MlA Ravinder Raina told reporters outside the State Assembly.
Referring to the recent security assessment made by the DGP K Rajendra and central and State intelligence agencies Raina said when all these agencies have been telling that large number of militants were still active across the State and several others were awaiting their turn to infiltrate inside the Indian territory how can we think of revoking AFSPA.
Meanwhile, a day after both the houses of the J&K State legislature passed a unanimous resolution condemning the dastardly act and urged the Pakistan to rein in terrorists to carry forward the peace process with India, Mufti Mohd Sayeed urged the Centre to take a lead in engaging all SAARC countries, including Pakistan, in the dialogue process to usher in a new era of reconciliation.
Describing former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee as a great statesman who seized the opportunity in Kashmir to extend a hand of friendship to Pakistan, the Chief Minister said New Delhi has to take a leaf out of his vision by writing a new chapter with its western neighbour, which is the only bottleneck in ending perpetual conflict in the region that has denied the people the rich dividends of peace.