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| Union Home Ministry to revoke AFSPA from four districts, amended act to remain in force elsewhere | | | Syed Junaid Hashmi
JAMMU, Sept 21: Union Home Ministry has speeded up process of consultations at the highest level over the proposed revocation of Armed Forces Special Powers Act (AFSPA) from four districts of Jammu and Kashmir.
Sources said that Union Home Minister Susheel Kumar Shinde has been taking keen interest over the issue. "Consultations have begun at the highest level over the possible revocation of AFSPA from atleast four districts i.e. two in Jammu and two in Kashmir valley. Defence Ministry has some issues which would be addressed before a decision is taken to revoke the act from comparatively peaceful districts," said a source.
Apart from the revocation of the dreaded act from the four districts of Kashmir valley, sources said that the act which would remain in force in other 18 districts would be an amended one. They maintained that revocation and amendments would be announced simultaneously. "It would be unwise to revoke this draconian act from certain areas and leave, rest of areas vulnerable to misuse of act by Armed forces. Ministry is working on both the issues," said an official source.
A decision would be soon communicated to Chief Minister Omar Abdullah, who has been pressing the Congress led UPA Government for revocation of the act from the comparatively peaceful areas, said the source. High profile Cabinet Committee on Security which is headed by Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh and includes four members viz. Union Minister of Finance P. Chidambram, Defence Minister A.K. Antony, Home Minister Susheel Kumar Shinde and External Affairs Minister S.M. Krishna is likely to meet in the first week of October over the issue.
Sources said that meeting has been fixed and Defence Ministry has been specifically told to come prepared with detailed account of objections which Army has towards revocation of AFSPA especially with regard to comparatively peaceful areas of Srinagar, Budgam, Kathua and Jammu districts. They maintained that Home Ministry does not want to take unilateral decision over this issue, which also has political dimensions.
Regarding the amendments, sources said that proposed amendments include taking arrest warrants in advance, removal of the power of the armed forces to open fire causing death and setting up of a grievance redress cell. Prior to this latest development, during P.Chidambram's tenure, Union Home Ministry had circulated draft note with proposed amendments to the Union Law and Defence Ministries in May 2009 for their comments with a rider to furnish the same within shortest possible time.
Both the Ministries had been asked to go through proposed amendments carefully and give their opinion on whether the same should be carried out or not. Union Home Ministry has then stated that after receiving the replies, it would list the amendments before Union Cabinet for its approval. It had further said that after the approval of Union Cabinet, the draft bill would either be introduced in the Parliament for passage or would be promulgated through an ordinance. However, this process had ended then and there due to stiff opposition from the Army. |
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