Defenceinfo Bureau Report
Omar Abdullah, the Chief Minister of Jammu and Kashmir has bitten the bullet by stating firmly that the Armed Forces Special Powers Act and the Disturbed Areas Act will be revoked from some areas of Jammu and Kashmir within the next few days. He has also said that revocation of these laws will not have any adverse affects even though the JK Police and Para-military forces will have to gear up to take on additional responsibility. In a rather bizarre data based assessment he s has said that the declining number of police and other security forces’ martyrs last year shows the situation has improved.
Omar also left a window open to jump out should move backfire by stating, “During the last three years, I have learnt one thing that if today is good, there is no guarantee that tomorrow will also be good. We will have to work hard to ensure that 2012 will be as good as 2011.” This indicates that behind the bravado, motivated by a political downslide, he is a very worried man and has every reason to be so. Saner voices have been continuously been advising against this move in favour of a wait and watch policy for the next few years till such time that the fragile peace gains firm roots. Here’s hoping that the “man in a hurry” will not end up with egg on his face. In any case it is not he but the people of Kashmir who will have to face the brunt of a wrong decision.