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| Manmohan and Omar play their cards well | | | It was a queer situation during the Chief Minister's conference in Delhi on Monday which was presided over by Prime Minister,Manmohan Singh.While Manmohan Singh ,in his address,said that Pakistani terror groups were planning fresh attacks on India and the rate of infiltration bids had gone up Chief Minister of Jammu and Kashmir,Omar Abdullah,was heard demanding partial withdrawal of the Armed Forces (special powers)Act.Omar told the conference that the Act be withdrawan from those areas where the militancy related violence was either insignificant or has declined.Will the centre concede the demand of Omar Abdullah ?Well if Delhi decides to help Omar to overshadow Mufti Mohd.Sayeed,who has been consistently demanding demilitarisation and the repeal of Armed Forces(special powers)Act(AFSPA) the Act may be withdrawan from atleast two district of Srinagar and Budgam.But at present various opposition parties,including the BJP,the VHP,the Bajrang Dal
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even the RSS are said to be opposed to partial or full withdrawal of the AFSPA on the plea that it may not allow a free hand to the security forces while taking on the militants.Omar Abdullah suggested at the conference that those found involved in terrorist acts could be detained under the Public Safety Act,which provides for two-year detention without trial. But arrest of militants under the Public Safety Act and the legal powers given to the security forces under the AFSPA are two different matters.The AFSPA empowers the security forces to carry out operations against the militants,carry out search operations and arrest anyone suspected to have links with militant outfits without any warrants or the orders of the Magistrates.If the statement of the union Home Minister,P.Chidabaram,made in the first week of the current month,is any indication Omar's demand for partial withdrawal of the AFSPA may be conceded.Chidambaram had stated that the Government
was considering amending the AFSPA in order to limit i ts application in Jammu and Kashmir and the North east where the Act is in force.Chidabaram has also indicated that the Government will review the demand for partial withdrawal of the AFSPA with the state Governments.However,the Prime Minister's assessment of the security scenario in the country and in Jammu and Kashmir in he context of credible reports hinting at terorists planning attack on India is likely to delay withdrawal of the AFSPA from the entire state of Jammu and Kashmir.The Prime Minister has stated that though the level of violence has gone down in Jammu and kashmir but the rate of infiltration bids has gone up in recent months.He has said that battle hardened militants,equipped with better weapons and sophisticated communication system were trying to infiltrate into the indian territory in Jammu and Kashmir.He attributed decline in the level of violence in Jammu and Kashmir to
2004 peace talks between Delhi and Islamabad.He said that since the terror attack in Mumbai these peace parleys stand stalled and the dialogue will be resumed only after P:akistan took credible steps for dismantling the terror infrastructure in the country.Even if it may take a couple of months for Delhi to decide on the demand put forth by Omar Abdullah he could score over the Mufti once the centre agreed to partial withdrawal of the AFSPA.Once it materialises Omar may then take up the issue of withdrawal of troops from those civilians areas where the level of militancy related violence has gone down |
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