Will Withdraw AFSPA from Kashmir once normalcy returns: Rajnath Singh

SRINAGAR, (PTK): Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh on Thursday said that Armed Forces (Special Powers) Act can be withdrawn from the Kashmir Valley once normalcy is restored, even as he slammed the Congress for promising to review the AFSPA in its manifesto for the upcoming Lok Sabha elections.

Singh was addressing a public meeting in support of Cabinet colleague Mahesh Sharma, who is the BJP candidate in Gautam Buddha Nagar, where he accused the Congress of wanting to dilute AFSPA in an attempt to weaken the armed forces.

Signalling a characteristic shift in its position on issues related to national security and individual freedom, the Congress, in its election manifesto released on Tuesday promised to “review” the Armed Forces (Special Powers) Act and Disturbed Areas Act which empower and provide immunity to security forces in areas hit by insurgency and militancy.

The manifesto made a specific proposal related to national security in Jammu & Kashmir, with the party claiming it will “review” both the AFSPA and Disturbed Areas Act. “Suitable changes will be made in the text of the laws to balance the requirements of security and the protection of human rights,” it stated.

The party also promised to repeal the colonial-era sedition law and leave out the IPC section on criminal defamation. Slamming the Congress for its mandate on the sedition law, Singh said, “A befitting reply will be given to whosoever tries to break India. Those who will do rashtradroh, they will be in jail, I am shocked that the Congress is speaking for such rashtradrohis,” adding that by pushing for such policies, the Congress is “promising to protect anti-nationals.”