Srinagar: The moderate separatist leader and cleric Mirwaiz Umar Farooq Saturday said Indian army was taking political decisions in Indian administered Kashmir.
Addressing a seminar titled, “Human rights violations-double standards of the international community” in Srinagar, Mirwaiz said, “The drama over removal of controversial Armed Forces Special Powers Act (AFSPA) from some parts of Kashmir has exposed army’s political desire”.
He said Indian Army has vehemently opposed lifting of AFSPA from the State as advocated by Omar government. It is very surprising that Army has now started playing a political role in J&K and is taking political decisions as well,” he said.
The senior army commanders based in Jammu and Kashmir have opposed Chief Minister Omar Abdullah’s move to lift AFSPA from some parts of the State. They have said that removal of AFSPA will render army hamper in Kashmir and affect its anti-militancy operations in the region, which will ultimately lead to rise in the militancy.
Mirwaiz said army is now openly issuing statements and rejecting the policies of the government. “Every now and then, Army generals come up with statements opposing the policies of the government. It is amply clear that army is taking the political decisions in Kashmir and government is helpless,” he said.
