BJP against dilution of AFSPA in Kashmir

New Delhi : A day ahead of a crucial Cabinet Committee on Security (CCS) meeting on Kashmir issue, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) on Sunday cautioned against any attempt to dilute the Armed Forces Special Powers Act (AFSPA) in Jammu and Kashmir.

Stating that such a move would demoralise the security personnel, BJP spokesperson Ravi Shankar Prasad said, ?The BJP would like to warn that any weakening of the AFSPA is unacceptable and no attempt be made under political pressure to compromise the morale of the security forces who sacrificed their lives while fighting the terrorists and ensuring security.?

Indicating that the government was being led by political considerations while dealing with the Kashmir situation, he said any decision on the AFSPA should be based on the assessment of the security forces rather than ?ad hoc assessment based primarily on vote bank politics?.

The BJP leader held elements from across the border responsible for the present unrest, which has claimed 69 lives in the Valley since mid-June.

Criticizing J&K chief minister Omar Abdullah for staying away from the state during Eid, Prasad said, ?It is indeed unfortunate and regrettable that the Chief Minister instead of controlling the violence in Srinagar chose to spend time in Delhi.?