PDP slams BJP’s ASFPA remarks
PDP chief spokesperson Dr Mehboob Beg has reacted sharply to the recent comments of senior BJP leader and MoS in PMO Dr Jitendra Singh on AFSPA.
“In a democracy it has to be the elected representatives, who have to take the final call on the issues like AFSPA,” Beg said.He said despite the commendable service that the armed forces do for nation, one has to be very clear that taking decisions on such issues do not fall within their domain.
Jitendra Singh had yesterday said that he was not in favour of partial withdrawal of the controversial AFSPA from Jammu and Kashmir.
He had said that the last word on this would come only from the security agencies and not from political functionaries.
Beg said that it would of course be incumbent to take the security agencies on-board when taking such decisions, but to say that the decision is to be taken by the security agencies is going against the fundamental principles on which democracy is built.
He said it was appalling to see Singh delving into each and every question and then topping it up by saying, “I am not qualified enough to answer these questions.
Beg said Singh must realise that he cannot just speak as an individual on such sensitive issues when he holds the position of an MoS in the PMO.
Calling the statement made by Singh as unacceptable, Beg also questioned the partial revocation of AFSPA in the North-East and asked if the call in that case was taken exclusively by the armed forces.
He further wondered whether the government had no role to play in that case.
