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| Abdullahs on 'warpath' with Army over AFSPA revocation….? | | Father stirs hornet's nest again, questions Army's authority--------"Army not Master of people….must concentrate on checking infiltration" | | Early Times Report
JAMMU, Nov 27: In what can be seen as senior Abdullah taking up direct cudgels with Army, Union Minister Dr Farooq Abdullah has virtually opened up a 'front' against them , targeting it for opposing the political move of Abdullahs .Raising the pitch again in favour of what his Chief Minister son Omar Abdullah has been vouching for the last over one month now, Dr Farooq has launched a tirade against Army questioning its 'authority and assertion' over continuance AFSPA in J&K. Stirring the hornets' nest Dr Abdullah has also suggested that Army instead of meddling in such affairs should better concentrate on checking infiltration of terrorists on the borders.
After observing silence for few days Farooq has started fishing in troubled political waters in the state at a time when the two allies in the ruling coalition NC and Congress are trying to bridge the differences erupted over this highly controversial issue, Dr Abdullah who has all through been supportive of the move of his son in seeking partial revocation of AFSPA from the state has come out openly in criticizing the Army using no less remarks than "Master" for the persons who for over two decades have been protecting the lives of people of state .
Dr Farooq, in an interview to a private news channel has sarcastically commented that Army was not the 'master' of the people of the state, blissfully ignorant of what Army's presence meant to people when militancy and terrorism was at its peak and what difference Army's contribution has made in making them feel secure and at peace when gun totting men would come calling, knocking the doors of people at the middle of night and kill innocent people, the bloodshed and mayhem which Army and security forces in general prevented with persistent efforts.
Farooq also went on to say that local police and CRPF were capable enough to take over the security responsibilities from the areas from where AFSPA was likely to be removed. He also described the Armed Forces Special Powers Act (AFSPA) as a "draconian" law. That Farooq has been strongly vouching for CM's last say in the matter, is now too known to be mentioned. But his assertion on questioning Army's role and indulgence or interference is being seen as taking up a direct confrontation with the Army when he said , "Army is not our master. ……. People of Jammu and Kashmir are masters of the state. Army is not the master…….. Army is only to protect. They will continue to protect the interest of nation," .
While speaking to Karan Thapar's Devil's Advocate chunk, Dr Farooq Abdullah even went on to suggest what Army needs to do rather than concentrating on AFSPA continuance. He said the job of the Army was to guard the border so that infiltration does not take place and that police and the CRPF are ready to handle other matters. What looks ironical is that on one hand Dr Abdullah has hit out Army and on the other he goes on say that it was not a war between Army and the Abdullahs as projected by some section of media . "These are questions of concerns of all of us…… Whether they are Army's or of civilians…..There are certain things we have to do for the betterment of the people, for the feeling of the people that yes there is better situation. That we are getting better. People of state feel that AFPSA should go," he said.
What could be seen as the hardest ever comment and remark coming from a former Chief Minister, who himself sought deployment of Army and need for imposition of these laws when he ruled the state, is the question he raised on the capability of Army in containing terrorism and checking infiltration. It came as salvo when he said that Army was failing to handle the situation .This he said in response to a question while justifying political leadership of the state was better equipped to handle the situation, Farooq asked "What do they (Army) handle? If they are able to handle, how the hell do these terrorists come….. How are they coming if they are able to handle."H e said that the Army was failing to handle the situation as "otherwise how do they enter?"
However, skilled as he is in changing the tone and tenor of statements in a spur of moment, Farooq to a question whether he was indicating that every successful infiltration bid was Army's failure, said "Its not the question of Army. Its the failure of entire system. Its intelligence failure. We have intelligence. We have internal intelligence, we have the external intelligence. There must be a failure somewhere if they are coming in."
Amid these failures, the National Conference President rejected suggestion of the questioner for continuance of AFSPA and said "I am not interested in AFPSA. Let me be very frank about it. I think the time has come when people should be trusted."
To a question whether he meant that Army does not trust the Kashmiris, he said "I don't know whether you trust Kashmiris or not, that you should go and ask Army. Time has come when people should be given space to breath. When they should feel that there is nothing beyond the law."
Asked why was his son and chief minister Omar Abdullah was amending the Criminal Procedure Code (CrPC) to address the Army's concern, the senior Abdullah said "he must have seen that they need a protection and that's why he is giving them. It was not suggested then and Omar is not a lawyer."
The Union minister appeared to be agitated when asked whether Omar was now placating the Army.
"I have been the chief minister myself so don't tell what a chief minister can do and cannot do. chief minister is the master."
He wished "good luck to Army" when the questioner said that Army felt that neither introduction of AFSPA was responsible for the situation in Kashmir nor its revocation would be and that the Abdullahs were using this as an alibi to divert the attention as they cannot tackle the real issue.
Farooq, however, made it clear that there was no proposal to withdraw AFSPA from bordering belts or areas where terrorists were still in large numbers in the Kashmir Valley.
"The question is that the security forces have their own point of view particularly with the Chinese in the PoK region and militancy still being propagated by the other side. This seems to be one of their worries and I think genuinely. So we have to take all these things into consideration."
Answering a volley of questions about the credibility ofhis son on the AFSPA issue, Farooq said "Credibility is not at stake. No credibility is at stake at all. These are not things that you decide in a spur moment. Everything has to take time. After all AFSPA was introduced in 1990 by the then Government and Governor.
"As far as my period is concerned, I was the one who started the unified command because I thought it was necessary to have a unified command so that all intelligence sources come together and the chief minister heads it.
"Now the question is that situation has gone better, what is the actual situation is only known to the CM because he has got all inputs," he said.
Farooq said his son did not need any defence as he was determined to remove AFSPA and that it will have to go.
However, when pointed out that Attorney General had opined that removal of AFSPA was at the discretion of state Governor, Farooq said "I am not bothered who has the right and who has not the right. As far as the President of the party is concerned, my job is to see is that this thing is lifted as the chief minister says the conditions are better in these areas, it should be lifted." |
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