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| Mehbooba hails report on AFSPA | | |
Jammu, March 15:
Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) today welcomed the announcement of the Central Government that it was considering the review of the Armed Forces Special Powers Act (AFSPA) as has been recommended by the Justice B P Reddy Committee.
Responding to the statement made by the Union Minister of State for Home Affairs, Mr S Raghupathy in the Rajya Sabha Wednesday that the recommendations of the Justice Reddy Committee for the review of AFSPA are under consideration of the Government, PDP President and Member Parliament, Ms Mehbooba Mufti today said the recommendations have vindicated her party's stand that the Act is proving counterproductive and only adds to the alienation of the people in the trouble-torn states like Jammu & Kashmir. She said surfacing of the recent gruesome incidents of kill-for-cash and the recurrent civilian killings in the forces' shootouts are the outcome of the continuation of such laws providing unlimited immunity to them.
Ms Mufti said as has been rightly pointed out by the Justice Reddy Committee in its recommendations, "AFSPA has become a symbol of oppression, an object of hate and an instrument of discrimination and highhandedness" and it is being blatantly misused by some vested interests in the security forces bringing bad name to the forces and the nation. She said as has been time and again pointed out by her party, time has come to repeal this Act and strengthen the civil society institutions to build public confidence in the democratic institutions and processes.
The PDP President emphasized that given the reconciliatory environment building within and outside the State for the peaceful and ultimate resolution of the Kashmir issue, the hostilities from all the sides must now permanently come to an end to prevent further blood-shed in the State. She reiterated her party's demand for phased reduction of troops, revocation of AFSPA from the State and vacation of all the civilian properties presently under the occupation of the security forces. She said through these measures only people's trust could be built in the democratic institutions which is imperative for sustainable peace.
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