STATE TIMES NEWS
SRINAGAR: Days after Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar ruled out revocation of AFSPA from Jammu and Kashmir, Chief Minister Mufti Mohammad Sayeed on Saturday said his government would “achieve its objective” with regard to the controversial Act in the State.
“I know everything. I know what to do and what not to do. Whatever we have to do, we will do that,” Sayeed told reporters on the sidelines of an inauguration ceremony of an International Buyer-Seller Meet at the SKICC here.
Asked about Parikkar’s statement that Armed Forces Special Powers Act (AFSPA) was mandatory if the Army had to be deployed in Jammu and Kashmir or any other state for internal security, the Chief Minister said “whatever our objectives are, we will achieve them”.
On the AFSPA, PDP-BJP ‘Agenda for Alliance’, he said, while both the parties have historically held different views on the AFSPA and need for it in the State at present, the Coalition Government would examine the need for denotifying the ‘disturbed areas’ in the State.
“This, as a consequence, would enable the Union Government to take a final view on the continuation of AFSPA in these areas,” the document (agenda) said.
Mufti also sought to downplay the series of attacks on mobile telecom installations and people associated with it in the Valley, saying it is a “temporary” phase and those responsible for it will be “taken care of”.
Two persons have been killed and three others injured in four attacks carried out by militants in past week on the telecom installations and people associated with it in Sopore and nearby Pattan area.
“If these things (threats and attacks in north Kashmir) happen, it is a temporary phase, it is not a permanent phase,” Sayeed told reporters here when asked about the spate of attacks on mobile service providers in Baramulla District.
The Chief Minister said the people of the State had seen lot of difficulties and now wanted to see peace and that such things would not affect the government’s endeavour to provide a peaceful atmosphere.
“People have seen lot of difficulties. (Now) they want to see good times, they want to see peace. They want to earn their livelihood and live with dignity.
“You will remember when we started Srinagar-Muzaffarabad bus service, the Tourist Reception Centre here was burnt (in a militant attack). Then there was one of our functions in the evening when an electricity receiving station was burnt. It will not affect our way, our endeavour to provide a good atmosphere of peace to the people, (but) we have to fight that,” he said.
Sayeed said there would be action against those behind the attacks.
“Yes, why would there be no action… When these things happen, they will be taken care of in a normal way,” he said.
On the raising of Pakistani flags in rallies of various separatist leaders, the Chief Minister blamed the media for giving the issue too much hype, but said the law would take its own course.
“It is the media which is giving it much hype. They are some small group and it would be taken care of. Law will take its own course,” he said.
Meanwhile Separatists trying to use telecom towers in Jammu and Kashmir indicates their desperation, Telecom Minister Ravi Shankar Prasad said on Saturday, while asking the State Government to ensure the safety of communications infrastructure.
A spate of attacks against telecom employees and those who have rented out space for installation of mobile towers in their fields has thrown the communication system in north Kashmir’s Baramulla into disarray.
“I sympathise for death of BSNL employees in J and K. I am in touch with senior officers there… Some separatist elements trying to use our towers is a clear indication of how desperate they are,” Prasad said at a Cabinet briefing here.
