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| Revoking AFSPA will prove counter-productive | | | Sushil Vakil | 10/15/2011 8:27:03 PM |
| Despite strong pleas by the political groups in Jammu and Kashmir, the Home Minister of India is eager to repeal AFSPA and withdraw security forces from some districts of the valley. The Home Ministry avers that since the summer of 2011 has passed peacefully there is no longer any need to station forces in trouble free areas. However, concern is growing among people that the move is likely to prove counter productive as militants are still operating in valley.
Moreover, there is a realisation among the officials that revoking of AFSPA and withdrawal of troops at this stage would not only hamper operations but also afford a chance to underground militants to unite and strike. The Army has already conveyed its apprehensions to the Ministry that replacing AFSPA or any dilution could affect its operational capabilities to effectively deal with militancy and insurgency.
Apparently, Chidambaram desires that the state government withdraw the draconian act from at least two or three districts, which have remained peaceful in 2011, as a confidence building measure. By withdrawing AFSPA the HM wants to minimise the alleged harassment to the common people at he hands of security forces. But Home Minister would do well to understand that there is every possibility of revival of the 1990 situation. Keeping in view the violence persisting in valley and other parts of the country the Home Minister needs to concentrate on enhancing the efficiency of all intelligence agencies and upgrading of security forces rather than earning goodwill of opponents.
Chief Minister Omar Abdullah and Home Minister Chidambaram discussed matters related to the revocation of AFSPA prior to the presen- tation of final report by the three government appointed interlocutors. Sources said the discussions harped around revocation of the DAA from some parts of the State, which could lead to withdrawal of Armed Forces Special Powers Act (AFSPA).
No doubt, phased withdrawal of AFSPA and troop reduction were expected to be the two recommendations of the Interlocutors. But when the interlocutors finally submitted their report to Home Minister on October 12, 2011 there was only suggestion to consider the reviewing of AFSPA and not immediate action. There had been a reduction of 30,000 troops in Jammu and Kashmir in 2009, but the security forces now have warned against any further tampering with their number in the state.
Meanwhile, differences on the proposed amendment in AFSPA are persisting between the Ministries of Defence and Home and the Government is unlikely to table the bill to this effect in the winter session of Parliament.
The Defence Ministry and Army Commanders in J&K are also reportedly opposed to withdrawal of AFSPA in the State. The Defence Ministry as well as Army chief Gen V K Singh had repeatedly raised their voice against any attempt to dilute AFSPA as it gives the Army the powers to detain and, if the situation warrants, eliminate suspected terrorists when they are fighting insurgents without the fear of prosecution.
There is no denying the fact that PDP and separatists are raking up this issue again and again and pressing the union government to reduce the number of central forces from civilian areas and also revoke ASFPA to restore trust among locals in the Indian administration. It is another matter that PDP and separatist leaders are raising this issue just to widen their political constituency. Well, if they feel that there is no more any need for security forces to operate then why don't they ask the government to withdraw their personal Z plus security?
Apart from PDP, Chief Minister Omar Abdullah has also been using this as a ruse to point fingers at the UPA government whenever he faced a political challenge from his opponents in the state. In year 2010 he played "withdrawal of security forces card" well when he was on the verge of resigning from chief ministership due to his mishandling of stone pelting protests which paralysed life for more than six months in the state. Last week, Omar again dipped into serious political crisis when one senior NC political worker died in police custody after he was handed over by chief minister’s security on September 30.
As a matter of fact the state cannot risk withdrawing troops at this stage as the militants are attempting infiltration at borders and skirmishes continue between the security forces and militants in different parts of the valley. Also more than five hundred militants are awaiting across the borders to sneak in. This has made the security forces wary of thinning their presence.
As the move is likely to cause serious discomfiture to militancy affected people and armed forces the government ought to ask those people, who want AFSPA to be removed, to give in writing that there will be complete peace in the valley after the removal of the law. There are people who play politics in the name of removal of law; people have not forgotten the political parties, who were fighting vehemently for the removal of TADA and complained of inadequacy of laws for dealing with terrorism, when they were at the receiving end.
It is high time that Home Minister PC Chidaambaram and J and K Chief Minister Omar Abdullah realise that the people need good governance and not cosmetic steps like AFSPA withdrawal. As rightly said the UPA government, particularly the Congress high command should advise Omar Abdullah to concentrate on the employment of youth and development of infrastructure like good roads, drinking water, sanitation, power and transport etc. rather than demanding withdrawal of security forces etc.
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