'Decision to remove AFSPA took all by surprise'

New Delhi: Commending the Army for maintaining security in Jammu and Kashmir, main opposition People's Democratic Party chief Mehbooba Mufti on Saturday counselled caution about the move by Omar Abdullah government to revoke Armed Forces Special Powers Act from parts of the state.

Talking to reporters after attending a seminar at the Hindustan Times Summit in New Delhi, Mehbooba said Omar's move seeking revocation of the controversial law from some areas of Jammu and Kashmir has taken "everyone by surprise, even the Army".

"Revocation of AFSPA, withdrawal of security forces from the civilian areas are articles of faith as far as we are concerned because we feel the security forces have done a commendable job," she said.

She said there are "some black sheep" everywhere, some Generals who fudge their certificates but a majority of Indian Army is "very disciplined".

"You have to give them a very honourable exit and to give that you need to go through a very very proper manner where you take everybody on board and don't seem to be looking that you are pushing them out but you are just telling them that OK the job is done and we need space for civilian institutions to function," Mehbooba said.

She alleged the decision of the state government for withdrawal of AFSPA from some regions was taken "in a haphazard manner which took everyone by surprise, even the Army."

Mehabooba said if the state government is serious then the decision like this cannot be "thrown into the face of the country or the state".

"We are very much for revocation of AFSPA but it has to be a part of good governance. Revocation of AFSPA cannot be a substitute for good governance," she said.

She said the move cannot be for diverting attention from mishandling or corruption.

Mufti said if Omar Abdullah was serious about the revocation of AFSPA, he should have done home work before and alleged it was an attempt to divert attention from the death of NC worker Hazi Yusuf.

Demanding complete withdrawal of the law, she said revocation from Srinagar, Samba, Budgham, and Jammu is a "joke on the people" of Kashmir as the Chief Minister himself is saying there are no army operations in these areas.