Drown in pool of water: Shah to Cong on AFSPA

Tribune News Service
New Delhi, April 3

BJP chief Amit Shah on Wednesday lambasted Congress leaders over the party’s promise of reviewing the Armed Forces Special Powers Act and withdrawing the anti-sedition law, saying they should “drown” themselves in a pool of water, as he pledged his party’s support to the forces and sanctity of the AFSPA.

The Congress had in its manifesto promised a “review” of AFSPA, meaning it will review some sections of the Act.

Addressing a rally in Udhampur, Shah said: “The Congress and its leaders should feel ashamed of what they have announced (to dilute AFSPA).”

He also slammed former chief ministers Omar Abdullah and Mehbooba Mufti for advocating a separate PM for the state and threatening secession of J&K from India. 

Former Union Home Minister and Congress leader P Chidambaram had yesterday said: “We said we will amend the law — the word is ‘amend the law’. It will balance the rights of security forces, as well as human rights and remove immunity only in three cases — enforced disappearance, sexual violence and torture.”

“I don’t think anybody in the 21st century can say that enforced disappearance, sexual violence and torture must be condoned,” Chidambaram said.

Meanwhile, the Congress today demanded a treason case against Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Finance Minister Arun Jaitley and Shah, accusing them of being “traitors”, a day after the Centre partially removed AFSPA from three out of nine Arunachal Pradesh districts. 

AFSPA will remain in force in the areas bordering Myanmar, officials said.

The Justice BP Jeevan Reddy Committee had recommended scrapping of AFSPA from the state. Officials point out that an amendment to AFSPA and its sections is different from removing it from particular areas.

As per the Ministry of Home Affairs notification, the four police station areas in Arunachal Pradesh that were declared “disturbed areas” under AFSPA are no longer under the purview of the special law.

The police station areas from where AFSPA has been withdrawn are Balemu and Bhalukpong in West Kameng district, Seijosa in East Kameng and Balijan in Papumpare district. (With PTI inputs)

We kicked chair in J&K on the issue 

The BJP brought down its government in J&K when the pressure came on it to dilute the AFSPA. We kicked the chair. We left  government on AFSPA. The Congress and its leaders should be ashamed of what they have announced. Go drown yourself in a pool of water. They should be day-dreaming...  — Amit Shah, bjp chief