Srinagar, June 4 (IANS) Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) president Mehbooba Mufti has demanded a special session of the Jammu and Kashmir assembly to discuss what she termed the ‘grave situation’ caused by human rights violations in the state.
In a letter to Chief Minister Omar Abdullah, Mehbooba said: ‘I am writing this letter to follow up on my party’s call to convene a special session of the state legislature to discuss the grave situation caused by unabated human rights violations.’
‘The latest of them, about the staged murder of young men from Nadihal Baramulla, has created a scenario in the state unprecedented even by our own unfortunate standards. Young men are being sold and purchased for outright slaughter and their own elected government seems blissfully engaged in games of survival and comforts of power,’ the letter, copies of which were released to the media Friday evening, said.
Mehbooba also demanded the repeal of the Armed Forces Special Powers Act (AFSPA).
‘AFSPA has unfortunately become a tool of oppression in the state. We, as representatives of the people, owe it to them to get this repealed. Unless we join hands to do that, I am afraid it could never be off the statute book. The democratic system of the country gives that power to us and the people expect us to use that power for the safety of their life, dignity and honour,’ the letter said.
‘I would request you to kindly have a special session of the legislature convened at the earliest in the best traditions of democracy. I am sure if a resolution is passed by it for the repeal of this law, there would be a very sympathetic response to it from the rest of the country,’ the letter added.
