Excelsior Correspondent
SRINAGAR, May 29: Expressing dismay over the Centre’s “double-standards” on controversial Armed Forces Special Powers Act (AFSPA), senior PDP leader and Member Parliament, Tariq Hameed Karra today said it seems Jammu and Kashmir is being treated as an enemy territory by Delhi establishment, when it comes to dealing with security related issues.
“Ironically, while the Centre welcomes Tripura Government’s decision to repeal AFSPA, in the same breath it unfairly pitches for continuation of the contentious law in J&K,” Mr Karra said in a statement issued here today.
The PDP MP said unfortunately the discrepant approach and prejudiced policies of the Modi Government towards J&K have only contributed to deepening of the trust-deficit and alienation in Kashmir. “If the Centre wants peace process and democratic institutions to flourish in the State, commensurate relief measures shall have to be taken on the security front so that people feel the change on the ground,” he said and added that the hawkish rhetoric will only add to the cynical aloofness especially among the State’s youth.
Mr Karra said now that Tripura has set the trend for revocation of AFSPA, the process must go on with the revocation of the controversial law from other States including J&K.
The PDP leader said that it is high-time that instead of indulging in vicious rhetoric, the Centre reaches out to the people of the State with tangible measures to set-off the much needed rehabilitation and developmental process, especially in the wake of devastating floods of September 2014.
“The Government of India should not only approve the special package for rehabilitation and reconstruction of the flood-affected infrastructure, but should also provide adequate funds to the State Government to kick-start a sustainable developmental process in the State,” he said and added that repeated rhetorical outbursts by the political leadership in Delhi are not going to do any good either to the State or its people.
Mr Karra also strongly condemned the latest attacks by gunmen on telecom installations and other facilities in Kashmir. He said such acts are aimed at hitting out at the foundations of the State’s economy which is already under tremendous stress due to the floods of last year.
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