Withdrawing AFSPA in J

New Delhi, Apr 30 (UNI) Cautioning the UPA Government against withdrawal of the Armed Forces Special Powers Act (AFSPA) and Disturbed Area Act in Jammu and Kashmir, the BJP today said it would be against the national interest.

''If any such thing was done it would be an act to give a free hand to militants and anti nationals,'' BJP Parliamentary Party spokesman Vijay Kumar Malhotra said, referring to the recommendations of a working group headed by M A Ansari on Kashmir set up by the Prime Minister.

He said the Group had recommended withdrawal of these special laws as part of Confidence Building Measures to improve relations with Pakistan. ''It will be dangerous to do so in the name of confidence building measures,'' he said.

Mr Malhotra said about 70,000 to 80,000 people, including 6,000 to 8,000 armed personnel had been killed in Jammu and Kashmir which were more than the number of jawans killed in four wars that the country fought.

He also assailed the process of reduction in deployment of security forces in the state, saying the decision was proving to be diasastrous. The land from which the security camps had been dismantled actually belonged to Kashmiri Pandits who had to flee the state for security reasons in the wake of terrorist activities. Now their land and property was being occupied by others, he pointed out.

Mr Malhotra regretted that the Working Groups only talked about autonomy to separate Kashmir from India. ''We would like to say that Jammu and Kashmir is an integral part of India and any move to separate it will have nation-wide reaction,'' he said, recalling the sacrifices made by RSS leaders like Shyama Prasad Mukerjee for Kashmir.

UNI