AFSPA to stay in Kashmir till peace is restored: BJP

‘High command to decide whether to contest LS bypolls or not’

A day after Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti pitched for repeal of controversial AFSPA from some areas of the State, BJP vice president Avinash Rai Khanna Thursday said the controversial law will stay in Jammu and Kashmir till peace and normalcy returns.
“BJP’s stand on AFSPA is clear. Until the peace and normalcy is restored in the State, the law will stay,” Khanna told media on sidelines of party convention at Deputy Chief Minister, Nirmal Singh’s residence, here.
He said Government of India (GoI) is keeping an eye on situation in Kashmir. “The decision on AFSPA revocation will be taken by GoI on the right and appropriate time”.
Mehbooba during a counter terrorism conference in New Delhi yesterday had pitched for revocation of AFSPA, saying she required a “window of peace” for ensuring good governance to “shrink the space” occupied by militants.
On allegations by National Conference working president Omar Abdullah that PDP-BJP coalition government was downgrading security of opposition leaders ahead of bypolls to two parliamentary seats in the Valley, Khanna said the security is not being withdrawn due to political pressure.
He said providing security or withdrawing it is done as per intelligence and CID reports. “Security is provided as per the threat perception and not on the basis of party or individual”.
Khanna, who is also BJP’s J&K Incharge, refused to comment on Article 370.
“The party’s position on the issue is clearly depicted in BJP’s manifesto and discussing it again and again is not beneficial,” he said.
Earlier in the day, Khanna along with State BJP general secretary Ashok Koul received feedback from party cadres at the convention on the forthcoming bypolls to two parliamentary seats in the Valley.
“We discussed how BJP can go ahead with elections. The views about upcoming by-polls were taken from party cadres and we will discuss it with State party leaders. Then the view whether to contest the bypolls or not will be convened to the party high command, which will take the final decision,” he said.
The BJP vice president said their effort will be to add these seats – Srinagar and Anantnag – to the NDA tally.
He appealed people to vote keeping in view development of Kashmir.
The BJP vice-president is in on a two-day visit to the State to take a detailed feedback from party workers.
In 2014 parliamentary elections, the BJP had fielded Fayaz Ahmad Bhat and Mushtaq Ahmad Malik from Srinagar and Anantnag constituencies respectively. Bhat had security only 4467 votes and Malik got 4720 votes.
Sources said this time BJP may give mandate to some others from the two constituencies.
They said MLC, Surindar Amberdar and MLC Sofi Mohammad Yousuf are front runners to receive party mandate to contest from Srinagar and Anantnag seats respectively.
The BJP claims that it has enrolled over 5 lakh members in the Valley.

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