Feb 18, 2011
Srinagar : Opposition PDP today termed "unfortunate" the statement of defence minister AK Antony about revocation of Armed Forces Special Powers Act (AFSPA) from the state, saying Kashmiris cannot be held hostageto "unilateral opinion" of security agencies.
"Security forces have done their job in the civilian domain of the state and it was time to relieve them of this additional burden," party president Mehbooba Mufti said in a statement today.
The union defence minister had yesterday dismissed demands for the withdrawal of AFSPA from Jammu and Kashmir, saying infiltration attempts were still continuing and militants could not be given any "opportunity to succeed".
Mehbooba said the AFSPA was enacted at a time when the state was "bristling with armed fighters", whereas all government agencies are now unanimous that only a few hundred militants are operating in the state.
"Nothing could be more unfortunate and antithetical to our democratic system than Antony's rejection of even a public debate on this subject of life and death for residents of the state," she said. The PDP leader said the civil society and democratic institutions must be strengthened to take care of the daily lives of people.
"Forces must take care of borders only," she said. Mehbooba said Chinese incursions in Ladakh were going "unchallenged" even as the defence minister has expressed apprehensions on continued attempts at infiltration.
(Courtesy : http://www.dnaindia.com)
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