PDP in 'tacit agreement' with BJP on AFSPA: NC leader

Abdul Rahim Rather said, Mehbooba Mufti is answerable to Defence Minister's 'categorical refusal to even consider' revocation of the Act

Senior National Conference (NC) leader Abdul Rahim Rather alleged the demand for revocation of Armed Forces Special Powers Act (AFSPA) from Jammu and Kashmir was rejected by Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar as the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) have a "tacit agreement" on the issue.

"Struggle to seek the revocation of AFSPA from the state has received an enormous setback because of PDP's tacit agreement with the BJP and the Central Government on this issue," Rather said.

He said Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti and her party are answerable to Defence Minister's "categorical refusal to even consider" revocation of the Act.

The former Finance Minister accused the Chief Minister and the PDP-BJP government of "compromising on crucial issues" of importance to the state for political power.

"We all remember how the present Chief Minister was vocal about AFSPA revocation while she was an Opposition leader and now suddenly it (AFSPA revocation) is not even in the list of priorities for the government she heads," the NC leader said.

"The Central government has also categorically refused to handover power projects to the state which was another main demand of PDP and a pillar of their Agenda of Alliance," he said.