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| Delhi opposes PDP's 'unnecessary noises' | | Defence Ministry for continuance of AFSPA in J&K | | BL KAK
NEW DELHI | FEB. 18
Former Chief Minister of Jammu and Kashmir, Mufti Mohammed Sayeed's personal equation with Prime Minister, Manmohan Singh, notwithstanding, the government of India is not ready to concede the demand of the People's Democratic Party (PDP) for the troop reduction and withdrawal of the Armed Forces Special Powers Act (AFSPA) in the troulbed State.
Describing as "purely internal administrative mechanism" the PDP's message to the Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister, Ghulam Nabi Azad, asking him to convene a 'special' meeting of the State Cabinet to deliberate on the issue of troop reduction and withdrawal of the Armed Forces Special Powers Act, a senior Ministerial source told EARLY TIMES on Sunday: "It is basically and potentially the Union government that has to decide on the troop reduction and withdrawal of AFSPA".
Even as the Ministerial source made a passing reference to "some improvement" in the situation in Jammu and Kashmir, it was pointed out by him that the situation "certainly has not become completely peaceful as to warrant early steps to bring about troop reduction and withdrawal of the Armed Forces Special Powers Act in J&K". According to the Ministerial source, the Union Home Ministry continues to be in "regular touch" with the State Chief Minister, Ghulam Nabi Azad, on the question of involving more and more personnel of the local police in fighting militancy. "This phenomenon cannot be expected in a few days", the Ministerial source said.
No sooner did the J&K Agriculture Minister, Abdul Aziz Zargar, dashed off a letter to his Chief Minister calling for a 'special' meeting of the State Cabinet than the Ministry of Defence apprised both Prime Minister's Office (PMO) and Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) of its opposition to the idea favouring troop reduction and withdrawal of the Armed Forces Special Powers Act in Jammu and Kashmir. The Defence Ministry's reported message to the PMO and MHA sounded a note of caution: As the jihadi and terrorist activities continue unabated in quite a few places in Jammu and Kashmir,and as anti-India terrorist outfits continue to operate across the Line of Control (LoC), the demand for troop reduction and withdrawal of AFSPA lacks both feasibility and relevance. Unnecessary noises need not be encouraged.
The demand just renewed by the People's Democratic Party (PDP) is not acceptable to the Ministry of Defence (MoD), according to the Ministerial source. Abdul Aziz Zargar's letter (addressed to Ghulam Nabi Azad) containing the demand comes after PDP patron, Mufti Mohammed Sayeed, said a few days ago that the issue would be raised at a Cabinet meeting. PDP is the second major partner in the coalition government after Congress. But relations between the two have soured on this issue.
Copies of the letter, significantly, were on Sunday morning furnised to the Prime Minister's Office, Minister of Home Affairs, Shivraj Patil, and Defence Minister, AK Antony. The letter said: "There should be measured, responsive and responsible reduction of the armed forces engaged in the task of maintaining internal security in the State. They should be replaced, in appropriately selected areas, by the local police personnel whose engagement in fighting militancy would be more effective and result yielding".
Zargar, obviously, acted in accordance with the instructions of his guiding force, Mufti Sayeed. Both Mufti Sayeed and his daughter, Mehbooba Mufti, who is the president of the People's Democratic Party, seem to have politicisied the issue of the troop reduction and withdrawal of AFSPA. No wonder, Zargar's letter emphasized: "The Armed Forces Special Powers Act should be withdrawn as it is obvious that this statute will not be applicable to the operation of local police". The PDP leader also echoed his party's sentiments that the situation in Jammu and Kashmir had improved "considerably" and that these measures were necessary to give the people of the State a better sense of security. Zargar's letter said: "We believe that the process of dialogue and inclusive engagement, which has been set in motion, is yielding rich dividends both at home and abroad".
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