Jammu,July 20 (Scoop News) -BJP State President Shamsher Singh Manhas today cautioned both centre and Jammu & Kashmir government not to take any decision which would lead to dilution of Armed Forces Special Power Act (AFSPA) in the state, where militancy and infiltration have been on increase for the past few weeks.
Manhas said that dilution of AFSPA would handicap the armed forces, who have not only been fighting pitched battle with Pakistan sponsored militants but were also placed in a situation where separatists and anti-national elements were seeking opportunity to target the forces in one way or the other. It was because of some powers under AFSPA given to forces that situation in Jammu and Kashmir has witnessed some improved, he said.
He said that the authorities must realize the ground situations under which the forces are working in Jammu and Kashmir, where political forces of one or other kind are also working at the behest of their masters from across the border. Supporting the argument of the Army Chief General V.K. Singh that it is for the centre to provide certain amount of legal protection to army which are deployed in areas where they will have to face well-armed and well-trained terrorists, the BJP chief said that government should take this as a serious issue and not fall prey to the contentions raised by some leaders for their vested political interests.
BJP State President said that the BJP had been repeatedly saying that Armed Forces Special Powers Act (AFSPA) should not be diluted. The stand of chief of Army Staff should now leave no one in any doubt that continuance of this Act is must till the situation is not normal.Every peace loving and nationalist person will obviously agree that the time is not ripe to either withdraw army or make any reduction in the powers given to it. It is indeed unfortunate that the State Chief Minister on one hand calls army to assist civil administration and on other hand advocates to abolish Armed Forces Special Power Act, said Manhas and declared that BJP will remain as watch dog for the state and continue to work for its full integration with the rest of the country.