Left, LJP demand revocation of AFSPA from Jammu and Kashmir

NEW DELHI: Demanding the repeal of Armed Force Special Power Act (AFSPA) from Jammu and Kashmir and Manipur, Left parties and LJP today said they will raise the issue of Kashmir in the coming Parliament session.

At a press conference here, Left front leaders A B Bardhan ( CPI), Prakash Karat (CPI-M), Debabrata Biswas ( Forward Bloc) and LJP president Ramvilas Paswan accused the government of going back on its promise of limited revocation of AFSPA and demanded the setting up of a parliamentary panel to discuss the situation in Kashmir.

"It is important to draw the attention of the country to what is happening in J and K. Though militancy has come down in the Valley, the oppressive military regime continues there. The army should be there to protect the border and to check infiltration only," Karat, CPI (M) General Secretary, said.

"I don't understand why the army continues to argue for this law. The government must take a political decision and we will continue to demand for its (AFSPA) review, he said.

Terming AFSPA, Disturbed Area Act and Public Safety Act as "draconian" laws, he said "in last year's all-party meeting called by the Prime Minister we were given a clear and unwritten understanding that AFSPA will be revoked from some parts of the state. But the government has backed out from its limited revocation."