Mufti's AFSPA comment reflective of 'deep divisions' between BJP and PDP: Congress

The Congress Party on Tuesday said Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Mufti Mohammad Sayeed's 'unilateral comments' about revoking the controversial AFSPA, reflected deep divisions between the BJP-PDP coalition government in the state.

"Unilateral comments like these reflect again the deep divisions within the coalition of the ruling government in J-K. Without these practical problems, unilateral declarations like these are a recipe for disaster and should be avoided," Congress spokesperson Abhishek Manu Singhvi told ANI.

"All stake holders have to be on hand before such decisions are taken," he added.

"Until and unless, the army, the state government, the other paramilitary forces, and of course, the central government can arrive at a complete comprehensive consensus about the tests to measure reduction in militancy in certain areas and also about addressing the issue, what happens if people cross-over from one district to another," Singhvi asked.

He pointed out that when the Congress was in power within a coalition government in Jammu and Kashmir, it handled the matter in a very balanced manner.

Earlier on Monday, when three terror attacks rocked Jammu and Kashmir killing three policemen, the state government said it would work towards a phased withdrawal of the Armed Forces Special Powers Act from areas in the state that have been free from militancy for some time.

The comments were a written reply from Chief Minister Mufti Mohammad Sayeed to National Conference MLA Devender Rana's query about the phasing out of AFSPA.