Ruling parties differ on AFSPA revocation

BJP undecided over fielding of candidates for bypolls

NL Correspondent

SRINAGAR: The ruling parties of Jammu and Kashmir-the PDP and BJP- differ over revocation of the Armed Forces Special Powers Act in the state.

“The BJP's stand is very clear that AFSPA can't be withdrawn until peace is restored and situation is normal in the state. The centre is monitoring the situation very closely and will take decision at a right time,” Khanna told reporters on the sidelines of a party function here.

Khanna's statement, who is also Vice President of the BJP, came a day after Mehbooba Mufti pitched for revocation of the AFSPA from some areas of the state.

She said on Wednesday that the PDP and BJP had come together on an Agenda of Alliance which included revocation of AFSPA.

“We should not shy away from revocation of AFSPA. When things improve, why not? We don't shy away when situation goes bad. We don't shy away from calling more forces…We ask Army to be more proactive, but when the situation improves, we should not shy away from the fact we need to start revocation of AFSPA from some places and see what is the impact,” she said, while addressing a seminar on counter terrorism in New Delhi on Wednesday. The opposition National Conference and other regional parties of Kashmir have also been demanding the revocation of the AFSPA. The demand from regional parties for AFSPA revocation has intensified ahead of the bypolls for two Lok Sahba seats in Kashmir.

However, the ruling parties at the centre and the Army have opposed views over withdrawal of the controversial Act from the state.

Khanna also said that the party has not decided over fielding its candidates from Srinagar and Anantnag Parliamentary constituencies.

“We have received feedback from the party workers and leaders whether to field own candidates or support the PDP candidates. The state leaders will hold more deliberations and then convey the decision to the BJP central leadership, subsequently the final decision will be taken. No decision has been taken so far over pre-poll alliance to the bypolls of two Lok Sabha seats,” Khannal said. The BJP leader said both the seats will go into the “kitty of the NDA” of which the PDP is also a part.  However, the BJP leader further said the party will field its candidates in the Panchayat polls.

Reacting to Hizbul Mujahideen posters asking people to stay away from polls, Khanna said, “The militants should trust on the democracy and shun the path of violence. People should come out for vote in large numbers. We condemn threatening of people not to vote.” He said the government was providing security to leaders of political parties based on reports of police and intelligence agencies.

The BJP State General Secretary, Ashok Koul, has ruled out a pre-poll alliance with its coalition partner for elections to two Lok Sabha constituencies. He has said the party would contest the polls independently.  On Tuesday, he asked the workers to gear up for scheduled by-elections for two Lok Sabha seats of Anantnag and Srinagar.

The state unit has suggested the party's central command in New Delhi a list of potential candidates, which it plans to field in Srinagar and Anantnag by-polls slated for the next month. He said the BJP would announce the names of candidates by Saturday.

Its alliance partner, the PDP has chosen J&K CM Mehbooba Mufti's brother Mufti Tasaduq Hussain to contest Anantnag and former Congress leader Nazir Khan from the Srinagar Lok Sabha constituency. The opposition National Conference and Congress has announced Farooq Abdullah and G A Mir candidates for Srinagar and Anantnag constituencies, respectively.