Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, Mar 24: Commenting on the controversy and confusion regarding the applicability of Armed Force Special Powers Act (AFSPA) in the State, BJP State spokesperson Farooq Khan said that the said Act is very much in force and no area has been denotified for the purpose of the applicability of this Act.
While talking to reporters along with two other spokespersons of the Party Lalit Moza and Balbir Ram Rattan here today Khan said, the debate in this regard is uncalled for and politically motivated.
He, while explaining the issue, said that Disturbed Area Act (DAA) 1997, which is under discussion has no relevance whatsoever with the continuation of AFSPA in the State. In fact, AFSPA is a self-contained Act, which came into being in the State in September 1990 with retrospective effect from July 1990, while the said DAA was not even borne on the Statute Books of the State. Any notification under AFSPA regarding denotification of any area of the State has to be issued by the Governor or Government of India. The confusion, which is deliberately being created that AFSPA is dependent upon DAA for its existence in the State, is far from truth. Even the agenda of governance unambiguously says that only the Centre in this regard will take the final view.
As for the BJP, Khan said that it holds the view that nothing shall be done that hampers anti-insurgency operations in the State and undermines the resolve of the security forces to maintain internal and external security. The State BJP, once again, reassures the nation that it shall not allow anybody to tinker with Indian sovereignty and integrity of the Nation.
Khan was flanked by BJP State Spokespersons Lalit Moza and Balbir Ram Rattan.
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