Srinagar, Dec 19 (Inditop.com) Mainstream political leaders in Jammu and Kashmir have welcomed the announcement of union Defence Minister A.K. Antony that 30,000 soldiers have been withdrawn from the state, but separatist leaders are cynical, saying the troop cut was not visible.
Antony had Friday said in New Delhi that 30,000 troops had been withdrawn from Jammu and Kashmir over the last one year, but he said the Armed Forces Special Powers Act (AFSPA) would not be repealed as it was still needed keeping in view the security situation.
State Minister for Rural Development Ali Muhammad Sagar welcomed the announcement about troop reduction and said the move was in line with Chief Minister Omar Abdullah’s stand.
“The chief minister has been making efforts for troop reduction and this is a result of his efforts,” Sagar said.
The ruling National Conference (NC) minister said more troops would be withdrawn as and when the situation improved.
The opposition People’s Democratic Party (PDP) spokesman Naeem Akhtar said the reduction in the number of troops should not be “cosmetic”.
“It should not be cosmetic where one battalion is replaced with the other. The most significant development in this regard would be the withdrawal of the AFSPA, which the defence minister has ruled out for the present,” Akhtar told Inditop here.
Senior vice president of the Congress party Muzaffar Parray was happy with Antony’s announcement and said the AFSPA would be repealed by the central government only after the overall security situation improved.
Mirwaiz Umer Farooq, chairman of the moderate Hurriyat group, said: “If 30,000 troops had been withdrawn from Kashmir then it should have been visible to the people here.
“The defence minister must tell us where and when has such reduction taken place,” Mirwaiz told reporters here.
The pro-independence Jammu and Kashmir Liberation Front (JKLF) was also cynical about the troop cut announcement.
“Where has such a reduction taken place? The people have not seen any such reduction,” said JKLF vice chairman Bashir Ahmad Bhat.
Senior hardline separatist leader Syed Ali Geelani, presently in Delhi for an eye surgery, said over telephone: “We cannot say such a reduction has taken place. Even if it has, how much difference would reducing 30,000 troops make as 8 lakh Indian troops are deployed in Kashmir,” Geelani said.
The common man too feels withdrawing troops is a welcome step, but it must be matched with the repeal of the AFSPA.
“As long as AFSPA remains in force, the deployed troopers enjoy unbridled powers. The difference in the lives of the common people would become visible only after AFSPA is withdrawn”, said Mehraj-u-Din, a 36-year-old fruit seller here.
Another resident said the continuation of AFSPA in Kashmir indicated that the government felt that the situation in the state is still far from normal.
“Normalcy means the troops must go back to their barracks and the powers they have at present are withdrawn. As long as AFSPA continues, the situation cannot be said to have improved for the better,” said Shabir Ahmad, an engineer.
rounak