Delhi must fulfill its commitments on troop cut: Mehbooba

Srinagar, June 7 (UNI) Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) chief Mehbooba Mufti has come down heavily on the critics of troop cut in Jammu and Kashmir, saying those raising hue and cry over the issue had tried to outscore each other in welcoming Prime Minister Manmohan Singh's announcement to reduce armed forces in the state in 2004.

Addressing a public meeting, the first in the past 17 years, at Tral in Pulwama district, Ms Mufti said there was no justification in disruptive politicking over troop cut by some quarters.

''Same quarters, who are today raising hue and cry over the PDP's demand for troop reduction, had dished out scores of welcome statements when around 10,000 troops were moved out of the state following Dr Singh's announcement in November 2004,'' she added.

The PDP president said sensing the ground reality and the public mood, Prime Minister Singh had demonstrated great political wisdom by announcing phased withdrawal of troops from the state in 2004.

''At that time, without wasting even a moment, all the quarters, cutting across the political divide, hailed Dr Singh's move, in a bid to claim their share of credit for the phenomenally improving security situation,'' she added.

Both the National Conference and the Congress had termed the decision as ''historic and bold'' and the first ever CBM taken by the Centre in Jammu and Kashmir during the past 15 years.

''Now after three years of the Prime Minister's announcement when the situation has improved further, the same quarters are trying to paint a gloomy picture of the security scenario, only to sabotage any relief to the people of the state...unfortunately...only for petty political reasons,'' Ms Mufti added.

She said then Defence Minister Pranab Mukherjee and then Army Chief General N C Vij had endorsed Dr Singh's announcement and laid out a roadmap for the purpose, declaring that the Centre wanted to convey the message that the armed forces were deployed in Jammu and Kashmir to improve the situation and they have done their job.

''It sounds completely incomprehensible that why everybody has turned hostile to this sensible move now?'' the PDP chief asked.

MORE UNI