PDP and BJP have a 'tacit agreement' on Afspa, says senior NC leader

Srinagar: Senior National Conference (NC) leader Abdul Rahim Rather on Tuesday alleged the demand for revocation of Afspa from Jammu and Kashmir was rejected by Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar as the PDP and the BJP have a “tacit agreement” on the issue.

“Struggle to seek the revocation of Afspa from the state has received an enormous setback because of PDP’s tacit agreement with the BJP and the Central Government on this issue,” Rather said.

He said Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti and her party are answerable to Defense Minister’s “categorical refusal to even consider” revocation of the Act.

The former Finance Minister accused the Chief Minister and the PDP-BJP government of “compromising on crucial issues” of importance to the state for political power.

“We all remember how the present Chief Minister was vocal about Afspa revocation while she was an Opposition leader and now suddenly it (Afspa revocation) is not even in the list of priorities for the government she heads,” the NC leader said.

“The Central government has also categorically refused to handover power projects to the state which was another main demand of PDP and a pillar of their Agenda of Alliance,” he said.