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Notwithstanding Home Minister P Chidambaram’s tacit support to Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah’s intention to partially remove the Armed Forces Special Powers Act (AFSPA) from the State, the Congress is cautious as it would also have adverse impact on insurgency hit North Eastern States like Manipur by giving strength to similar demands.
The deep fissure between the UPA Government and the ruling party was evident on Monday as Chidambaram said there was nothing wrong with Omar’s move as review of AFSPA was part of an eight-point agenda of programme decided by the Cabinet Committee on Security (CCS) last year for restoration of normalcy in Jammu and Kashmir.
Chidambaram said there was “nothing unusual or new” if the Chief Minister wants to quicken the process of review of AFSPA. Backing Omar, he said, “This is a CCS decision and I am part of the CCS.”
The Home Minister’s stand is in sharp contrast to the Congress as PCC chief Saifuddin Soz had earlier flayed the unilateral decision of Omar without consulting the alliance partner Congress and he was backed by AICC in charge for Jammu and Kashmir Mohan Prakash.
A major section of the ruling party is not only wary of the impact of Omar’s move on the long term peace and security scenario in Kashmir as is being apprehended by defence establishments, but also its repel effect in North East.
“If we agree to remove AFSPA from Jammu and Kashmir, it will fuel similar demands in Manipur where Irom Sharmila is on a fast for the past over a decade demanding revocation of AFSPA,” a senior Congress leader told The Pioneer.
Pointing out that situation is already grave in Manipur, which is facing economic blockade for over past three months, he said that the centre could not afford to aggravate it further by having another agitation in the state which is likely to happen if the AFSPA is revoked in J & K.
Moreover, even in Kashmir revoking AFSPA may lead to intensifying of the militancy as extremist will take advantage of the situation, he pointed out and said that any decision on such sensitive issue should be taken only after proper consultation with the Unified Command which has representatives from all stakeholders and review of the ground situation.
Realising that he was rubbing the party wrong way by openly defending Omar, Chidambaram tried to adopt a middle way by saying that Congress demand for more consultation was “perfectly understandable.” He also advised the CM to hold more consultation within the cabinet before approaching the Centre on the issue.
However, discontentment among the local Congress leaders who have openly started demanding a rotational system with Congress nominee to be made the Chief Minister and recent controversy over NC leader Haji Yousuf’s death for which the Supreme Court has issued a notice to the Omar Government has put fuel to this fire.
Already the local unit of the Congress has become divided with a minister from the party Taj Mohiuddin coming in support of Omar saying that that he had been consulted by the CM on the issues.
But the prevalent view in the Congress is that Omar had jumped the gun by making public announcement which has complicated the situation and will only delay any decision on the controversial issue of AFSPA.
The deep fissure between the UPA Government and the ruling party was evident on Monday as Chidambaram said there was nothing wrong with Omar’s move as review of AFSPA was part of an eight-point agenda of programme decided by the Cabinet Committee on Security (CCS) last year for restoration of normalcy in Jammu and Kashmir.
Chidambaram said there was “nothing unusual or new” if the Chief Minister wants to quicken the process of review of AFSPA. Backing Omar, he said, “This is a CCS decision and I am part of the CCS.”
The Home Minister’s stand is in sharp contrast to the Congress as PCC chief Saifuddin Soz had earlier flayed the unilateral decision of Omar without consulting the alliance partner Congress and he was backed by AICC in charge for Jammu and Kashmir Mohan Prakash.
A major section of the ruling party is not only wary of the impact of Omar’s move on the long term peace and security scenario in Kashmir as is being apprehended by defence establishments, but also its repel effect in North East.
“If we agree to remove AFSPA from Jammu and Kashmir, it will fuel similar demands in Manipur where Irom Sharmila is on a fast for the past over a decade demanding revocation of AFSPA,” a senior Congress leader told The Pioneer.
Pointing out that situation is already grave in Manipur, which is facing economic blockade for over past three months, he said that the centre could not afford to aggravate it further by having another agitation in the state which is likely to happen if the AFSPA is revoked in J & K.
Moreover, even in Kashmir revoking AFSPA may lead to intensifying of the militancy as extremist will take advantage of the situation, he pointed out and said that any decision on such sensitive issue should be taken only after proper consultation with the Unified Command which has representatives from all stakeholders and review of the ground situation.
Realising that he was rubbing the party wrong way by openly defending Omar, Chidambaram tried to adopt a middle way by saying that Congress demand for more consultation was “perfectly understandable.” He also advised the CM to hold more consultation within the cabinet before approaching the Centre on the issue.
However, discontentment among the local Congress leaders who have openly started demanding a rotational system with Congress nominee to be made the Chief Minister and recent controversy over NC leader Haji Yousuf’s death for which the Supreme Court has issued a notice to the Omar Government has put fuel to this fire.
Already the local unit of the Congress has become divided with a minister from the party Taj Mohiuddin coming in support of Omar saying that that he had been consulted by the CM on the issues.
But the prevalent view in the Congress is that Omar had jumped the gun by making public announcement which has complicated the situation and will only delay any decision on the controversial issue of AFSPA.
