KP'S FOR GOING BACK TO KASHMIR by Vijay Parimoo

Vijay Parimoo 22 October 11:21 JAMMU, Oct 21: BJP, VHP, Sena take exception to CM's announcement on AFSPA :- aking exception to the Jammu & Kashmir Chief Minister's statement that "with the gradual improvement in the security situation and return of peace, the Armed Forces Special Powers Act (AFSPA) is being removed from some areas within next few days", the BJP State chief spokesperson and national executive member, Dr Jitendra Singh has said that any decision in these matters must be taken with the cognizance of professional security experts and wondered at whose behest the Chief Minister was going about making announcements on such a sensitive issue and that too at a time when the GOC Srinagar Gen Hasnain is on record of having stated that there is at present an all -time high built-up of potential infiltrators on the LoC. Dr Jitendra Singh said that any final decision regarding deployment or withdrawal of troops from militancy prone areas is never a sole prerogative of any political party or political leader and asked the Union Home Minister P Chidambaram to clarify the media reports that he had assured the J&K Chief Minister of withdrawal of AFSPA from three districts each in Kashmir and Jammu divisions respectively despite his own party colleague and Defence Minister A.K.Antony not in favour of a hasty decision in the matter. Making a plea to avoid playing politics in the name of AFSPA, Dr Jitendra Singh said in case the State's coalition Government genuinely believed that security situation had actually improved on the ground, then a more effective Confidence Building Measure (CBM) would be taken to reduce the level of personal security enjoyed by Ministers and chief minister because that would send out a more visible message to the common man. Meanwhile VHP has also warned the Government's move of revoking Armed Forces Special Powers Act (AFSPA) from State saying withdrawal of army from some parts of J&K would prove suicidal. The VHP State president Dr Rama Kant Dubey in a statement issued here today also criticized the Chief Minister for terming the AFSPA a black law saying it was because of this Act that human rights of the innocent people were protected in the State. The AFSPA has been extended to the State with the consent of State Government and so CM should not call it a black law, he added. Hindustan Shiv Sena has also taken a strong exception to the reported move on AFSPA withdrawal. Talking to reporters here today president of Sena, Dimpy Kohli and its general secretary G I Singh said that the terrorists threat still continues in the State which was prevailing 15 years ago and hence the revocation of AFSPA will prove counter productive. They said that the militants from across the border are making attempts to sneak inside and some have succeeded in infiltrating to this side while as per reports 3000 terrorists are waiting across the border on launching pads in an opportunity to sneak inside, they added. They said under these circumstances withdrawal of AFSPA will not be in the national interests. They also questioned the leaders of some mainstream political parties for making suggestions in this regard and warned that Sena will react strongly in case Government goes ahead with its decision to withdraw the forces form State. Posted by ; Vipul koul                                          VIPUL KOUL Edited by :Ahok Koul