Click to play videoNew Delhi: Union Minister and President of the ruling National Conference in Jammu and Kashmir Farooq Abdullah has come out strongly in support of his son and Chief Minister Omar Abdullah's demand to partially lift the Armed Forces Special Powers Act (AFSPA) from certain areas. Speaking to Karan Thapar, he also criticised the armed forces and intelligence agencies for failing to check insurgency in he state.
Farooq Abdullah: The Chief Minister is the master of the state. If he decides it has to go, it must go.
Karan Thapar: And what if the central government and the Army don't agree?
Farooq Abdullah: It doesn't matter. It is the wish of the people that matters and if the people feel that things are better then let us give them that. They said the same when 40 bunkers were removed. They said if the bunkers go, there will be no safety. When the bunkers were removed, people were able to breathe safely. People are being able to walk safely.
Karan Thapar: So on this issue you are prepared to defy the Army and the Defence Ministry.
Farooq Abdullah: There is no question of defying. Why are you talking of defying. The question is that there is a feeling in the people's mind that the time has come that this draconian law must go.
On failure to check insurgency in Jammu and Kashmir
Karan Thapar: Do you think you really know more as a civilian politician than military officers who actually have to handle the situation?
Farooq Abdullah: What do they handle?
Karan Thapar: The insurgency.
Farooq Abdullah: What do they handle?
Karan Thapar: Terrorism.
Farooq Abdullah: Where?
Karan Thapar: In your state.
Farooq Abdullah: In my state? Then how do these terrorists come?
Karan Thapar: From Pakistan?
Farooq Abdullah: Then how are they coming? If they are able to handle. Tell me how are they able to handle?
Karan Thapar: So you are saying army is failing to handle it?
Farooq Abdullah: Yes. They must have failed. Otherwise how do they enter? How have they entered?
Karan Thapar: Every successful infiltration that is a failure in your eyes is the failure of the army. That's what you are saying?
Farooq Abdullah: It's a failure of the entire system. The intelligence failure. We have intelligence internally and externally, there must be a failure somewhere.
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