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Kashmir : Congress-PDP rift over security cover widens

	February 12, 2007

The rift between the two main constituents of the ruling coalition in Jammu and Kashmir - the Congress and the People’s Democratic Party - over security cover for political leaders has widened. The controversy started when Chief Minister Ghulam Nabi Azad, speaking in the State Assembly on Monday, Feb. 5, had dared politicians demanding withdrawal of troops from the state to first give it to him in writing that they are willing to go without security. Responding to this, the top two leaders of the PDP, former Chief Minister Mufti Mohd. Sayeed and party president Mehbooba Mufti, wrote to the Chief Minister asking for the withdrawal of the security provided to them. In the letter, they said the security cover provided to party leaders should be withdrawn if that would facilitate demilitarization, which the party has been demanding as a part of settlement of the Kashmir issue.



The Chief Minister had said in the State Assembly in Jammu that if politicians were ready to have security for themselves and their party offices withdrawn, he would write to the Centre and have troops recalled from the state within twenty-four hours. Apart from the PDP, the separatists have also been demanding withdrawal of troops from the state and handing over of counter-insurgency operations to the state police.



Azad said that politicians are being ‘emotional’ in making such demands. He said when the time comes, the troops will be withdrawn. The Chief Minister said that if troops are withdrawn, the insurgency would become as bad as it was in the early 90s.





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Mehbooba Mufti moves without security



In a move termed by some observers as drama, or stunt, PDP president Mehbooba Mufti, slipped past her Z plus security from Srinagar and travelled a long distance into her militant-hit constituency in Anantnag district, and returned unharmed later.



On Monday, all PDP lawmakers had offered to surrender their security after Azad dared them to do so before seeking withdrawal of troops and the special powers given to them in the state. To make her point, Mehbooba on Feb. 8 accompanied senior PDP leader Ghulam Hassan Mir, the tinted windows of her vehicle hiding her, to Ashmuqam village in Anantnag district without her security.



The escapade comes 17 years after Mehbooba’s sister Rubiya Sayeed was kidnapped by militants soon after the VP Singh government came to power in Delhi towards the end of 1989. The Centre, with Mehbooba’s father Mufti Mohammed Sayeed as its Union Home Minister, freed four militants in exchange for Rubiya’s freedom. The abduction of her sister had led to one of Delhi’s worst capitulations to Kashmir militants. But Mehbooba Mufti isn’t afraid of the rebels when it comes to pulling a political stunt.



The move remained controversial, with the VP government accused of making a distinction between VIP and ordinary hostages, and of encouraging the rebels.



Mehbooba said on Feb. 8: “We feel there is a change in the security situation and there is no need for (special) laws (such as the Armed Forces Special Powers Act) or more security men.”

The security men on duty had to face the music. “They have been reprimanded and are likely to face action,’’ a police officer said.



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Leaders of the PDP are now reported to be moving with less security. Some Ministers belonging to the party came to the Assembly without escort vehicles. Finance Minister Tariq Hamid Karra said they are waiting for the Chief Minister to take the next step.



PDP Chief Mehbooba Mufti admitted there was a “lack of understanding between the two partners. The current situation reflects that,” she said.



The Congress said it was unhappy that the PDP had not appreciated the spirit of the Chief Minister’s speech on Monday, Feb. 5, and tried to play politics with “the single-minded obsession of embarrassing the Azad Government.”



CPI(M) secretary and senior MLA M. Y. Tarigami said the two partners were “acting irresponsibly.”



“That they are talking to each other through the media shows the communication gap between the two,” Tarigami said.



Former Minister and senior National Conference leader Mustafa Kamal reminded the PDP that it was their leader, Mufti Muhammad Sayeed, who as Union Home Minister had brought the troops into the state and gave them special powers.



PDP leaders’ decision to give up security was made after Azad reeled out statistics showing that the three-year PDP-led rule had been far worse. He told the Assembly there were 25 custodial deaths, 18 custodial disappearances and 74 incidents of rape during the PDP-led rule. Compared to these figures, human rights situation during his tenure was just four custodial killings and six disappearances, Azad said.



National Conference president Omar Abdullah said the PDP has “enacted a drama” to deflect attention from its human rights record.





No demilitarisation as of now



The question of demilitarisation figured in the legislative council on Feb. 8 and the Ghulam Nabi Azad government made it clear that the situation was not yet ripe for the withdrawal of the Army and central para-military forces from the state. Replying on behalf of the Chief Minister to a question, Consumer Affairs and Public Distribution Minister Taj Moinuddin said deployment of central forces will continue till there is enough police force. He said the state government has sought funds from the Centre to raise 15 additional police battalions to fight militancy.



Observers say that the differences between the Congress and the PDP over the timing of troop withdrawal continue. The Chief Minister believes that the situation was not yet favourable for reducing troops to the pre-1989 level. But the PDP has been calling for urgent demilitarisation. Observers say that the PDP appears to be trying to cash in on the sentiments running in Kashmir, while seeking to outbid both the separatists and the National Conference by mounting pressure for troop withdrawal.



National Conference patron Farooq Abdullah said, “Our party favours demilitarisation, but conditions must be conducive.” He pointed out that the PDP never raised the matter when Mufti Mohd. Sayeed was the Chief Minister.





Human Rights violations to be probed



Chief Minister Ghulam Nabi Azad, speaking in the State Assembly on Feb. 9, said that all incidents of human rights violations in Jammu and Kashmir since 1990, when terrorism started, would be probed. He was reacting to accusations by the opposition National Conference that the state Government was ignoring the recommendations of the State Human Rights Commission. The Chief Minister said the arrest of the Sr. Supdt. of Police of Ganderbal was clear proof of the Government’s seriousness on curbing human rights violations.



Meanwhile, demonstrations continued in Srinagar and other places against killing of innocent civilians in fake encounters. Jammu and Kashmir Liberation front chairman Yasin Malik went on a three-day long hunger strike to protest against the killings. He ended the fast on Thursday, Feb. 8, with an appeal to Prime Minister Manmohan Singh to fulfil his promise of ensuring zero tolerance of human rights violations in Jammu and Kashmir.



Meanwhile, four more police officials have been arrested in connection with the killing of civilians in fake encounters.



In a related development, Hurriyat Conference chairman, Mirwaiz Umar Farooq has called for setting up of an independent commission to probe the fake encounters.



According to latest official figures place in the state legislature last week, the number of people who have disappeared in the state since 1990 is 1017, However, Opposition leaders allege that the figure may be around 5000.





Infiltration comes down



A high level meeting on the security situation in the country on Thursday, Feb. 8 was informed that infiltration into Jammu and Kashmir came down in 2006 as compared to the previous year. But a worrying factor was that new routes for infiltration opened up in the Poonch-Rajouri sector. Officials also expressed concern over the threat of jehadi outfits to create bases in the hinterland.



At the meeting, chaired by Union Home Secretary V..K. Duggal in New Delhi, the Centre decided to warn three north-eastern states - Assam, Nagaland and Manipur - to be on high alert following reports that militant groups could resort to violence.