NEWSLINKS US EDITION SOUTH ASIA COLUMNISTS DIARY SPECIALS INTERVIEWS CAPITAL BUZZ REDIFF POLL THE STATES ELECTIONS ARCHIVES US ARCHIVES SEARCH REDIFF
Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Farooq Abdullah on Saturday justified the imposition of Armed Forces (J&K) Special Powers Act, 1990 on six districts of the Jammu region as a necessary step to combat Pakistan's strategy to kill innocent people in the name of jehad.
"To give appropriate response to this nefarious strategy, it had become necessary to equip the security forces with adequate powers to deal with the situation thrust upon us by the neighbouring country," the chief minister told a private television channel.
He said he took the decision to declare six districts of Jammu region as disturbed areas with a heavy heart after the brutal terrorist attacks on innocent civilians.
He allayed the apprehensions on the misuse of these powers and said the government would ensure that the powers were used judiciously to deal with the terrorists sternly.
He said the powers conferred to the security forces are meant to combat militancy more effectively and not to cause inconvenience to the people.
The chief minister said the spurt in militancy in the recent times had taken a toll of innocent lives. This situation cannot be allowed to continue, he warned.
No government can watch its citizens falling prey to the bullets of the enemy, he said while advising Pakistan to stop abetting terrorism.
"India's initiative of peace process must not be construed as its weakness and if situation demands, the nation has a capacity to teach a lesson to the enemy," Abdullah declared.
UNI
Back to top
Tell us what you think of this report
