Nirmala Sitharaman Says the Congress Proposal to Amend AFSPA will Weaken the Armed Forces

Guwahati: Union Defence Minister Nirmala Sitharaman said on Wednesday that the manifesto released by the Congress was insidious relating to its proposal to amend the Armed Forces (Special Powers) Act, 1958 and it aims at weakening the armed forces.

The Congress President Rahul Gandhi on Tuesday released its party manifesto where it has been mentioned that if the party is voted to power it would Amend the Armed Forces (Special Powers) Act, 1958 in order to strike a balance between the powers of security forces and the human rights of citizens and to remove immunity for enforced disappearance, sexual violence and torture.

While addressing a press conference, Sitharaman said that the manifesto clearly undermined the armed forces and if it would be implemented it would make the armed forces hands and feet tied so that they cannot function.

The defence minister asked that is it right to tie the hands and feet of the armed forces to make it inactive and it is an effort to weaken the armed forces. The party is trying to dilute the immunity of the security forces.

She further added that the armed forces are protecting this nation by keeping their lives in risk and they are fighting with those people who are playing like locals sometimes and creating terror among people.

Becoming harsh on the proposed amendment, she asked why should it be presumed that the powers of the security forces are opposed to human rights adding that if the AFSPA is removed or amended as proposed by the Congress it will impact on the security doctrine both internally and externally.

She also questioned the Congress about the recent statement given by the Party Chief Rahul Gandhi on the Pulwama terror attack to get martyr status for those jawans who died on duty and asked why does its manifesto not say anything about giving martyr status to the jawans killed in action.

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