Govt says time not right to withdraw AFSPA from J&K
25 July 2014 4:21 AM IST
Minister of State for Home Kiren Rijiju, in a written reply in Rajya Sabha, said the issue was raised by state chief minister Omar Abdullah during the conference of chief ministers on Internal Security on 5 June, 2013.
The chief minister, Rijiju said, ‘raised the issue of withdrawal of Armed Forces Special Powers Act from the state in a phased manner, beginning from the areas which have been free from militancy for quite sometime.
‘However, various stakeholders particularly the security agencies have expressed their apprehension to the government that the revocation of the Act from the state of J&K will jeopardise their efforts in maintaining the security and law and order in the state. ‘Hence, it has been decided that the time is not appropriate at the moment for withdrawal of AFSPA from the state of J&K,’ the minister said.
As regards North-Eastern states, Rijiju said, ‘Representations have been received from time to time from different organisations/NGOs from Manipur for withdrawal of AFSPA. On security matters, the government of India carefully evaluates the situation on the ground before taking any decision.’
The chief minister, Rijiju said, ‘raised the issue of withdrawal of Armed Forces Special Powers Act from the state in a phased manner, beginning from the areas which have been free from militancy for quite sometime.
‘However, various stakeholders particularly the security agencies have expressed their apprehension to the government that the revocation of the Act from the state of J&K will jeopardise their efforts in maintaining the security and law and order in the state. ‘Hence, it has been decided that the time is not appropriate at the moment for withdrawal of AFSPA from the state of J&K,’ the minister said.
As regards North-Eastern states, Rijiju said, ‘Representations have been received from time to time from different organisations/NGOs from Manipur for withdrawal of AFSPA. On security matters, the government of India carefully evaluates the situation on the ground before taking any decision.’
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