Sir,
Congress Manifesto for the upcoming election states, “Congress promises to review Armed Forces Special Powers Act (AFSPA) and Disturbed Areas Act (DAA) in J&K and will make suitable changes in the text of enabling AFSPA laws to balance requirements of security and protection of human rights. Jammu and Kashmir and its problems deserve a large-hearted approach that will eschew muscular militarism and legalist formulations and look for an innovative federal solution”.
The very idea of calling army operations against insurgents as muscular militarism and protection of human rights of anti-national elements by tinkering with AFSPA is appalling. As an Infantry Officer, trained in CI Ops and of the era when insurgency was at its peak, I can’t resist condemning Congress manifesto and calling it ghostly because it willy-nilly pitches the State against the Security Forces. What an irony! I must remind INC President that numerous third world countries are facing sectarian and secessionist uprisings and are crushing them ruthlessly with the might of the state. He should know that the Indian Army is deployed in J&K and Northeast in Counter Insurgency Operations (CI Ops) where the insurgency is at its peak and the areas have been declared disturbed so that the govt can carry out its administrative and legislative functions without fear. Army in J&K is covered under AFSPA, passed by the Parliament in 1958 and upheld by the Supreme Court.
Off late a trend has developed in the valley to instigate public against the very army which is making tremendous sacrifices to protect them. Reaction by the army, such as against the stone pelters, if any, is blown out of proportion by the politicians and Journos for self aggrandizement. Articles such as ‘Army is Committing Sexual and Brutal Atrocities’ are published with impunity. Taking cue from such fake news, Congress plans to be a messiah, little realising that it amounts to demonising the armed forces officially. If it is being done for votes, congress be rest-assured that soldiers, ex-servicemen and their relations will rather vote for its opponents after such manifesto. It doesn’t please any Indian except perhaps diehard Congressmen, at best the separatists and Pak ISI, who want army to be hounded out of the Valley to radicalize the Muslim community and terrorise the rest. I would also like to ask Congress leaders why none of their kin is in the army. Why are they all big businessmen and big landlords or politicians. Send them to the army like son of Israeli Prime Minister and British Princes. Let them fight the insurgency shoulder to shoulder with other soldiers and then think of tinkering with AFSPA.
For the failure of politicians, soldiers lay down their lives. By promising dilution in AFSPA, Congress is making them sacrificial goats. They will be hounded by the HR activists. FIRs will be lodged against them. May be even after retirement they will keep facing trials in civil courts in the valley. Why should the army fight insurgency and get embroiled in legal battles is an issue before the army top brass. I appeal INC President to delete references to AFSPA from its manifesto forthwith.
Col J P Singh
Gandhinagar
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