News
Sunday, September 19, 2010
Geelani’s protest appeal baffles Indian leaders
* Army’s top brass tells defence minister soldiers were bound to shoot in ‘self defence’ if their camps were attacked
By Iftikhar Gilani
NEW DELHI: Hurriyat Conference leader Syed Ali Shah Geelani’s appeal to Kashmiri youth to hold demonstrations before the Indian Army has raised an alarm in the already flabbergasted Indian leadership, and it is trying to hammer out a way out from the emerging situation.
Indian Defence Minister AK Antony and National Security Adviser Shiv Shankar Menon held an hour-long meeting on Saturday evening to study the implications of Geelani’s appeal as they felt the army had been unnecessarily dragged into the political arena.
The army’s top brass have conveyed to the defence minister that their soldiers were bound to shoot in ‘self defence’ if their camps were attacked.
Even the leaders would not be allowed to handover a memorandum to officers in the camp as it could be considered provocation, Antony has been warned.
While the army has already issued an appeal, urging public to desist from such an action, an all-party delegation is likely to ask Geelani to withdraw the protest call, sources said.
Antony and Menon are believed to have discussed with the top defence brass regarding a controversy over the Armed Forces Special Powers Act (AFSPA) that gives army officers legal immunity for their actions.
They discussed a necessity to issue the clear-cut instructions to defence officers not to speak on politically-sensitive issues as it created complications and confusion. They felt the government was always there to protect the rights of defence forces and as such the latter should not feel threatened to make statements on their own.
The issue cropped up in the meeting specifically held to discuss the Hurriyat’s threatened protests before the army and security forces-camps because of army chief General VK Singh again speaking on AFSPA to assert that it is only an enabling law and not one giving arbitrary powers to the forces.
Though the general said the army had given its views to the Defence Ministry and it was for the political leadership to decide on revoking the law in Jammu and Kashmir and not the army, Antony and Menon noted. Early this week, Indian Air Force chief PV Naik, who is also chairman of the Chiefs of Staff Committee, had also sought to comment on the AFSPA that the soldiers engaged in civil duties deserve all the legal protection.
Meanwhile, the unending violence that began in the Kashmir valley on June 11 completed 100 days, with one more killing in police firing in Anantnag on Saturday, raising the death toll to over 90. Five others were also wounded in the police action to foil an attempt to set on fire the house of a mainstream politician. Though name of the politician was not given, Anantnag is residence of Mehboob Beg, a National Conference MP.
The house of a policeman was set on fire by a mob late on Friday night in Pinjoora village in Shopian district in south, while the demonstrators also set on fire the shop of another policeman in Pattan area of Baramulla district.
Curfew was imposed in Srinagar in the wake of violent protests and incidents of arson breaking out as people emerged after the Eid prayers last Saturday. It was extended to most of the valley.
The state government has also extended restrictions on movements in the four-km deep border belt of Kupwara district from 8pm to 8am under Section 144 of the CrPC for two months to check infiltration.
Courtesy www.dailytimes.com.pk