Srinagar, November 13
Though the common man keeps his fingers crossed over Prime Minister Manmohan Singh’s announcement of reduction of troops in Jammu and Kashmir, it is being seen as a positive development by both the separatist and mainstream political parties. There is, however, a different response from the hardline APHC leader, Syed Ali Shah Geelani, who has described it as a “double speak” as restrictions on the people continued with India trying to hoodwink international opinion.

Acting chairman of the moderate faction of the separatist Hurriyat Conference, Mirwaiz Umar Farooq, while hailing the announcement has expressed the hope that it would help in resolving the Kashmir dispute. He said the Centre was adopting a positive approach towards Kashmir and expressed the hope that the special powers to security forces under Armed Forces Special Powers Act (AFSPA) would be withdrawn. The former chairman, Moulvi Abbas Ansari, and DFP chief Shabir Ahmad Shah have also hailed the PM’s announcement.

Syed Ali Shah Geelani, reacting to the Prime Minister’s announcement, held that there was no sincerity in the Centre’s approach to the Kashmir issue, saying it was only to mislead the world opinion. He pointed out that despite the announcement, restrictions had been put on his movement on the occasion of Friday prayers here yesterday.

Chief Minister Mufti Mohammad Sayeed and the ruling PDP president, Ms Mehbooba Mufti, have also welcomed the PM’s announcement. Describing it as a big step in the right direction, PDP president and MP, Mehbooba Mufti, has said that the confidence shown by the PM in the people of the state will evoke matching response from the people. She added this would lead to a healthy environment and the third round of talks between New Delhi and Hurriyat would prove to be a success.

Ms Mufti said though the announcement of ceasefire on the Line of Control (LoC) earlier had allowed people living across the LoC in heaving a sigh of relief, this announcement would go further in helping people of the state live peaceful and dignified lives. This would also help in creating a conducive environment for the third round of talks between New Delhi and the Hurriyat and also between New Delhi and Islamabad in arriving at a long-lasting solution of the Kashmir issue.

“Now that a step has been taken by the PM in reducing troops in the state, we hope that the Pakistan president, General Musharraf, will take positive steps to decrease the level of violence in the state,” Ms Mehbooba said.

She also said if steps for the peace process continued in the same manner without impediments, the time will come when there will be no need of the Armed Forces Special Powers Act (AFSPA).

The National Conference patron and former Chief Minister, Dr Farooq Abdullah, while welcoming the announcement expressed the hope that it would help in curbing the present turmoil. He added this would lead to long-lasting peace in the Subcontinent and further improve Indo-Pak relations. Mr Farooq Abdullah said reduction in defence expenses in both the neighbouring countries would lead to prosperity of the people on both sides, and expressed the hope that both the countries would resolve issues and pave the way for peace and development in the region.

The NC president and MP, Mr Omar Abdullah, expressed the hope that special powers to the security forces would be reviewed and withdrawn to restore peaceful in the state.

Mr M Y Tarigami, state secretary, CPM, while describing it as a bold initiative hoped that it would lead to decline in violence and sufferings to the common masses.

Jammu, November 13
The BJP and the Jammu Mukti Morcha (JMM) have said that the decision of Prime Minister, Dr Manmohan Singh, to reduce the military strength in J&K was not in the interest of the country as it would provide an opportunity to Pakistan to rejuvenate the terrorist outfits.

In a statement here today, Prof Hari Om, vice-president of the BJP, urged the Centre to review the decision as it would enable the PDP, National Conference and Hurriyat Conference, that had been “subverting” the Indian polity both from within and outside, to accomplish their “evil design to delink J&K from rest of the country”.

He said the claim that the pull-out of military was being done as the situation in the state had considerably improved was not based on ground reality and added that the decision had been taken by the Prime Minister under pressure from Pakistan, the Kashmir-based separatist and pro-militant organisations.

Prof Hari Om expressed anguish over the “confused and muddled” thinking of Prime Minister and his team of advisers. He said the Congress had once again started playing with the dangerous tools for the sake of vote and induce the followers of a particular religion to strengthen its electoral cause especially in West Bengal, Bihar and Uttar Pradesh.

In another statement, Prof Virender Gupta, president of the JMM, warned that the reduction of forces might deteriorate the situation as it happened on earlier occasions.