JKNPP opposes unilateral ceasefire announced by Centre

The Jammu and Kashmir National Panthers Party (JKNPP) staged a protest today against the central government's decision that security forces would not launch any operations in the state during the holy month of Ramzan.

Led by JKNPP chairman Harsh Dev Singh, scores of activists staged the protest demonstration at the Exhibition Ground here and alleged that the central government had surrendered to the dictates of Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti.

They accused the saffron party of appeasing the chief minister merely to keep the "dirty alliance" between the PDP and the BJP intact in the state.

Defence Minister Nirmala Sitharaman only recently backed (army chief) General Bipin Rawat's stand that a unilateral ceasefire demanded by Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti was not a feasible option as the Indian Army had to firmly handle any terrorist activity that threatened the peace and harmony of the state," Singh added.

"All of a sudden yesterday, Home Minister Rajnath Singh announcing one-sided truce had raised eyebrows of the defence personnel besides billions of nationalist Indians who were feeling extremely demoralised and disparaged by the dangerous decision of the central government," he added.

"Its inability to snub the PDP's demand of unilateral ceasefire against the militants has proved that the BJP can digest any muck for power," the JKNPP leader said.