AFSPA would neither be lifted nor diluted; Modi govt’s clear stand on Kashmir

The Centre made its stand clear on AFSPA in the all-party meet today. It ruled out the possibility of lifting or even diluting the armed forces act in Jammu and Kashmir.

The Union government has ruled out the possibility of either lifting Armed Forces Special Powers Act (AFSPA) or diluting it in any form in the strife- torn state of Jammu and Kashmir.
Union Finance Minister Arun Jaitley made the Centre’s position clear at the all-party meet in the capital today morning. He was responding to suggestions from some parliamentarians who were a part of the all-party delegation that visited Jammu and Kashmir recently.

‘NOT FEASIBLE TO REMOVE AFSPA’
“It’s not feasible for the government to consider removing AFSPA,” Jaitley reportedly told the MPs.
It were the Left members who, during the all-party meet, had proposed removal of AFSPA as a confidence-building measure to tackle the Kashmir crisis.
CPM General Secretary Sitaram Yechury said these measures included removal of AFSPA from civilian areas, besides removal of pellet guns, use of dual track dialogue, employment generation and judicial inquiry in to allegations of torture by armed forces.
The imposition and continuation of AFSPA in Jammu and Kashmir has been a contentious issue, with human rights groups and sections of civil society calling for AFSPA’s removal on the grounds that it gave sweeping powers and immunity to the armed forces.
AFSPA allows the armed forces to take whatever action they deem necessary including search, arrest, and even shoot, in order to maintain law and order. It gives armed forces wide ranging powers and legal immunity for their actions.

ALL- PARTY DELEGATION THAT VISITED KASHMIR MET TODAY MORNING
The all-party delegation that visited Jammu and Kashmir met today to decide the future course of action to restore peace in the troubled Valley.
Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh chaired the three-hour long meeting of the parliamentarians from 20 political parties. It included Finance Minister Arun Jaitley, Minister of Food and Public Distribution Ram Vilas Paswan among others.
On Tuesday, Rajnath Singh also briefed Prime Minister Narendra Modi on the visit that look place on Sunday and Monday.