Security agencies should have last word on AFSPA: MoS in PMO

Security agencies should have the last word on revocation of AFSPA in Jammu and Kashmir instead of any political functionary, Minister of State in the PMO Jitendra Singh said today amid demands, including by ruling PDP, for withdrawal of the controversial law from the state.
"The last word on revoking AFSPA (Armed Forces Special Powers Act) should come from the security agencies," he told reporters here.
"If the security agencies feel that there is an improvement in the situation or this is not the right time for revocation of AFSPA in Jammu and Kashmir, that should suffice and we should not create an issue time and again," Singh said.

He was replying to a question on the demand for revocation of AFSPA in the state from some quarters, including PDP which is ruling the state along with BJP.
"These questions hardly need to be answered and my stand on this is consistent over the years. I am not qualified to answer this question," said Singh, who is a senior BJP leader from the state.
He said he has always believed and "that is my consistent point of view that this is a subject where the last word should come from the security agencies. Any political functionary on any of the highest post can provide suggestions on the issue but cannot be a deciding factor."

There have been demands for revocation of AFSPA from Jammu and Kashmir, particularly after it was done in Tripura recently.
On the issue of raising of Pakistani flags in Kashmir and hardline Hurriyat leader Syed Ali Geelani's statement advocating it, the minister said, "Union Home Ministry and Government of India have made it clear that nobody has the right to wave Pakistani flags and incite masses.
"We cannot tolerate such acts. We have been assured of appropriate action against those elements so that these things are not repeated again and again," he said.