Jammu & Kashmir Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti on Friday said time is not ripe to lift Armed Forces Special Powers Act (AFSPA) from the State.
Replying to the discussion on demand of grants for the departments under her charge, Mehbooba Mufti defended her Government's decision to slap FIR against the Army men involved in Shopian firing incident.
"Army as an institution has a great reputation but when someone commits a wrong the legal process has to follow". Referring to infamous land scam of Mumbai, involving senior Army officers, Mehbooba said action was taken against the guilty officers in the case. "It does not mean all the officers were involved in murky land deals",she added.
She also clarified on the floor of the State assembly Army has not filed any counter FIR in the case. She said, "Army has only submitted its version on January 28 in the ongoing investigations in the Shopian firing incident. Mehbooba said, it is part of the same FIR. We have to listen to both the versions. Mehbooba maintained, "Indian army is the most disciplined force. Let law of the land take its own course".
Responding to the demand to lift AFSPA, raised by CPI (M) MLA Mohd Yousaf Tarigami while participating in the discussion in the State assembly, Mehbooba said, "We (my Government) also want that AFSPA should be revoked. Foot prints of the Indian army should be reduced but in the wake of ground situation, i don't think it is realistic to lift AFSPA at this point of time."
"In the past whenever encounter took place in villages several near by villagers used to stay away from the encounter site but these days people from 4-5 nearby villages converge at the encounter site and start pelting stones on security forces. Referring to CPI (M) MLA MY Tarigami Chief Minister said , "you are a senior legislator you tell me under these circumstances how can you lift AFSPA". She said earlier it could have been possible to start the process of revocation of AFSPA from peaceful towns but at this point of time it is not realistic.