AFSPA: It’s time J&K was shown some dignity

 Good news, even if a bit belated, can bring smiles and ignite hopes, especially if it comes from Jammu & Kashmir. State Congress chief Saifuddin Soz’s statement that it was time the Armed Forces (Special Powers) Act (AFSPA) was revoked from parts of the state is one such news. He was addressing an All India Mahila Congress workers meeting in Srinagar. Soz’s statement gains importance as it is the first time the Congress has openly stated willingness to consider revoking the AFSPA. The National Conference, with which the Congress has allied to form the government in the state, has been calling for a rollback of the Act since 2011. J&K chief minister Omar Abdullah has the option of calling the Unified Command Headquarters to take the Army and other intelligence groups into confidence for facilitating such a move. He has assured to take up the matter with the prime minister and home minister at the June 5 internal security meeting in New Delhi. Though security is still a concern in many parts of the state, especially with incursions and disturbances at the border yet to calm, the state government feels that there are many areas in which the draconian law — as it is often referred to because of the unbridled powers it gives the Indian armed forces — can be revoked. This is a sentiment that has found resonance with the people of the state and many human rights organisations.
The Act was invoked in Jammu & Kashmir in 1990 at a time when militancy was at its peak. But with successful elections and greater power given to local bodies, things have changed over the years. With general elections a year away the chorus for revoking the AFSPA from J&K has gained ground and is expected to be an issue that political parties will take up during their election campaign. Omar Abdullah has been a prominent leader who has openly expressed displeasure with the Act not being revoked by the Centre. However, irrespective of whether political parties try to gain mileage from the issue or not, there is a strong case for the Centre, and the Army, to look into the request.
However, New Delhi cannot, and should not, take a call on the revoking of the Act depending on the political situation in Pakistan. The government, both at the Centre and the state level, in consultation with the Army, should take measured steps that will both win the confidence of the people and also ensure that peace and stability is maintained and further strengthened. The partial revoking of the AFSPA from certain areas in J&K will be a step in the right direction. In addition to this, the government should bring development to the state and involve an otherwise disenfranchised youth of J&K to be part of India’s growth story.

OF LEADERS AND DOGS

In an uncouth, callous and insensitive statement the Kerala (a state that boasts 100 per cent literacy) chief minister has bared his fangs at the family of slain officer Major Sandeep Unnikrishnan for snubbing him at Bengaluru. His statement to a news channel that “If Sandeep had not been a Major, not even a dog would have gone to his house”, has come for much criticism from the media, political circles and public. What is more alarming is that the 85-year-old leader refused to apologise and it took him three days and arm-twisting by the Polit Bureau to ‘regret’ his remarks.
Velikkakathu Sankaran Achuthanandan and the state home minister Kodiyeri Balakrishnan called on the Unnikrishnans’ late on Monday only after political and media pressure mounted on the state government for not attending Sandeep’s funeral. The vernacular media in Kerala has been projecting the Major as a son-of-the-soil and to make things worse for the grumpy old man, the Karnataka Chief Minister B S Yeddyurappa was seen by Unnikrishnan’s side during the funeral.
What irked the Unnikrishnans’ was the political mileage that the Left government in Kerala was trying to gain by the visit. Not heeding the family’s request for privacy, sniffer dogs were sent to sanitise the house before the leaders could call on.
In our country where the death of a soldier is seen as a part of his ‘duty’, it is not of surprise that a leader would politicise the issue, especially when the party is preparing for an election.
The triviality of the sacrifices for the country and the outbursts over inaction can been gauged by the reactions from our leaders --- a minister brushes aside the Mumbai attacks as a choti choti baath, a BJP leader cannot stomach the protest march taken out by Mumbaikers and says that people in suits and lipsticks do not represent the voice of the nation.
At a time when the country should show a semblance of unity and purpose, politics has taken the attack and its aftermath to a low --- the gutters of vote-banks politics. The principal Opposition party is busy campaigning, the Gujarat chief minister has offered Rs one crore to the family of slain ATS chief Hemant Karkare (the family declined the solatium).
Mumbai will show its resilience and get back to normalcy, India will shoot blanks at Pakistan --- this time overseen by the US, heads will roll – governments will continue, alerts will be sounded -- life will continue. After all, public memory is short.