Political battles start over Mehbooba Mufti's statement over removal of AFSPA from parts of J&K
Opposition parties said when they raised the issue, they were dubbed traitors, now BJP has to answer.
In Short
- Mehbooba Mufti talked about the removal of AFSPA from certain parts of the state.
- Opposition parties said when they raised the issue, they were dubbed traitors, now BJP has to answer.
- BJP leader Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi said that Central govt will take final decision on the issue.
Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti talked about the removal of controversial Armed Forces Special Powers Act (AFSPA) from certain parts of the state during the ongoing India Today Conclave in Mumbai, but the repercussions were felt in Delhi's power corridors.
Soon, both allies and Opposition brainstormed the controversial issue. Opposition parties said when they raised the issue, they were dubbed traitors, now BJP has to answer.
Senior Congress leader Renuka Chaudhary said, "Is this the answer? She has to hide her misgovernance in state. Why this sudden focus on AFSPA? When we had said this, it was terrible thing. Now, BJP has to answer. We will also watch the situation closely."
While CPI leader D Raja said, "This is an issue which we raised several times in Parliament. We raised several times in Parliament that AFSPA be revoked in J&K and now the CM has demanded it. Now, PDP is asking and BJP as well as Central govt should reply to it. We also want to know what home minister has to say about the issue.
"When people raise AFSPA issue there is a tendency of BJP to dub them as traitor. Now, what is BJP and Central govt's response?"
However, the BJP seems to be cautious in its response. BJP leader and Union Minister Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi said that Central government will take final decision on the issue.
"She has a party and that party has an ideology. We have no objection to what she says but as far this matter is concerned, Home Ministry will look into the matter and take final decision," Naqvi said.
Where as Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD), who are part of NDA-led Central government, said national interest comes first and Central government will take stock of the situation.
"It is an extremely sensitive issue. Centre has to review the issue along with Army and we don't want the security forces to get demoralised. The interest of nation comes first and we should not do anything to demoralised the Army," senior SAD leader Naresh Gujral.
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India Today Conclave 2017: Political authority doesn't make Modi authoritarian, says Mehbooba Mufti
Mehbooba pitches for withdrawal of AFSPA from some areas