Conflict

General Rawat is fighting a ‘dirty war’ in Kashmir, so AFSPA is needed, says Soz

Srinagar: Former Union Minister and senior Congress leader, Prof. Saifuddin Soz on Monday said that AFSPA is the biggest source of alienation and unrest in Kashmir.

In a statement, Soz pointed out that Indian Army chief Bipin Rawat is fight a dirty war in Kashmir, so he can’t let go of the law.

General is Right – No Hurry to Remove AFSPA. He wants the cup of alienation of Kashmiris to rise to the brim, as if it is not at the brim already!,” Soz said in the statement.

He added that according to the latest media reports, General Rawat is convinced that the time has not come to think of even amending certain provisions of AFSPA, not to speak of its revocation.

“Since the General is fighting a dirty war in Kashmir, the lethal weapon of AFSPA is needed,” Soz pointed out.

“Unfortunately for the Union of India, there has hardly been any exercise to understand the level of alienation of Kashmiris, deepened by the AFSPA, which has been in existence for 28 years (promulgated in September, 1990). The then Home Minister, P Chidambaram had tried to convince his colleagues during UPA-II that this draconian law had promoted alienation in Kashmir that had led to spells of unrest which the forces had always found impossible to quell!,” he said, adding that the Govt of India would be well advised to allow Kashmiris to express their suppressed feelings democratically.

(With inputs from KNS)

Click to comment
To Top