______Stop acting like a Govt: Kamal to Army____ General Officer Commanding-in-Chief, Northern Command, Lt. General KT Parnaik’s statement that “AFSPA repeal will hit existing peace in JK” has generated widespread criticism from mainstream political camp with ruling National Conference (NC) asking army to stop acting like a government within the government. However, Pradesh Congress Committee was bit tight lipped over the issue, but main opposition People’s Democratic Party (PDP) termed it a dangerous statement saying Army should know; that if the peace is prevailing in Kashmir it is because of the people and not because of the army. Talking to Kashmir Monitor, NC Additional General Secretary, Dr Mustafa Kamal said that such comments from Army were not acceptable and government in no way was prepared to listen to the tunes of a section of hard-line army officers who are coming out of their true criminal colors. He said that Unified Command is not a government within the government. “It was a system that was created to coordinate activities of all the security agencies including army in dealing with the militancy. It has nothing to do with the functioning of State govt. or civilian laws. Therefore, its opinions can or cannot be taken,” said the NC leader. He said this reveals that Army wants to keep people under oppression.Kamal said that he (Parnaik) represents one of the formations of Army so he is no one to take a final call on AFSPA. He said that it clearly indicates that Army is divided on the issue as the top brass of Army had already expressed their positive suggestions about AFSPA and have submitted it to the Union Home Ministry. Kamal further said that AFSPA is not an army law and army has its own laws governing their deployment in Kashmir. “This trend will ruin the institution of army. Army with this approach; is the biggest hurdle in restoring peace in the state,” Kamal said. “The Institution of army has already been ruined by deploying its troops in civilian works for too long. This institution has to be saved and should not be put in civilian duty for too long,” Kamal said and added that when People, Interlocutors, civil society and working groups have favored AFSPA removal, why army is acting as a barrier in restoring peace in the state. However, J&K Pradesh Congress Committee Chief Saif-u-din Soz remained tight-lipped over the recent remarks of Army; instead said that he has already expressed his view about AFSPA. “Army has its own view so I can’t comment. It is better to talk to Chief Minister Omar Abdullah,” Soz told Kashmir Monitor on phone. Joining the debate, PDP spokesperson Nayeem Akhtar said that it is very dangerous statement from Army’s side to say that peace in Kashmir is wholly dependent on keeping the draconian laws intact in the state. “It is a dangerous statement to make that peace in Kashmir is totally dependent on laws like ASFPA. If the peace is prevailing in Kashmir it’s because of the people of Kashmir and not because of Army,” Akhtar said. Like our official news paper page facebook/shaharbeentimes
Posted on: Wed, 19 Jun 2013 05:56:40 +0000
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