Jammu, Mar 29: Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) on Thursday accused the Omar Abdullah-government of using AFSPA as a medium to deflect public anger.
"The revocation of AFSPA is a very serious matter. But, unfortunately it has become a victim of Chief Minister's non-serious attitude, who uses revocation of AFSPA to deflect public anger caused by his failures. Laws like the AFSPA, restricting right to life, property, free expression of opinion will ultimately have to go," said a resolution passed by the PDP during its general council meeting here.
The party also expressed its disapproval of the government's attempts to trivialise democratic institutions and alleged that the legislature's prestige has been put at stake by the NC-Congress coalition.
"The Home Minister's refusal to return the mortal remains of Afzal Guru, even after the state Assembly had expressed its sentiment during discussion on PDP's adjournment motion, was not just insensitive but outrightly insulting.
Even in the face of such humiliating response from the Centre, the Chief Minister failed in his duty to uphold the dignity of the House," the party said.
Alleging that the present government has become synonymous to curfew, pellet guns and chilly grenades, the PDP warned that employing such tactic will push the state back to 1990's.
"The present government has pushed the youth towards desperation and frustration. Increasing casualties, whether of peaceful demonstrators, innocent citizens, elected Panchayat members or police and security forces, convey a grim reminder that Kashmir is going back to the dark era that prevailed during NC's earlier regime under Farooq Abdullah," the party said.
PDP appealed the youth to overcome their disillusionment and give democratic methods more time to assert and demanded immediate release of all political prisoners and youth arrested on flimsy grounds, in order to create an atmosphere of trust and confidence.
"The party calls for withdrawal of cases against thousands of young people, who are victimised for having used their democratic right to protest against an insensitive administration," it said.
"Arrests under the Public Safety Act, which has been invoked as a convenient tool against political workers who could not be framed in criminal, cases should be stopped," the party demanded.
