With the voices getting louder for the revocation of Armed Forces Special Power Act (AFSPA) in Jammu and Kashmir, the Ruling People’s Democratic Party (PDP) Tuesday said that though the act must go but maintained that situation was not conducive to withdraw the act.
The AFSPA is in vogue in Jammu and Kashmir since 1990, gives sweeping power and immunity to the armed forces.
“From day one we wanted peace in Kashmir. We too want that AFSPA should end, but let situation improve so that the law could be withdrawn,” Maternal uncle of Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti and PDP Vice President Sartaj Madni said over phone.
Terming dialogue as the core philosophy of his party, Madni said that PDP has been emphasizing on this aspect for long and even will continue to do so.
During 2014 assembly campaign in the state the PDP leaders has promised that if voted to power, the party will ensure that AFSPA is withdrawn from the state. The BJP on the other hand, had opposed any withdrawal of the act.
Mehbooba’s predecessor and Opposition National conference leader, Omar Abdullah had in 2012 expressed confident that “ the day was not for” when AFSPA will be withdrawn from the state during his governments tenure.
However after failing in his attempt, Omar blamed the collation partner congress and opposition PDP for not supporting him in his endeavour to get AFSPA revoked. (KNS)