Click to play videoNew Delhi: If People's Democratic Party (PDP) chief Mufti Mohammed Sayeed was celebrating his victory on troop reduction in the Kashmir valley after an assurance from Prime Minister Manmohan Singh on Saturday , on Sunday, Defence Minister A K Antony stepped in to change the story.
“When we are convinced that the situation is fast improving then only we can review it,” says Antony.
Meanwhile, on Monday when a meeting of the core group comprising senior cabinet ministers and Sonia Gandhi is scheduled to be held, it has to be seen whether Antony will be overruled in favour of political expediency?
By setting up a committee on troop reduction, the Prime Minister has managed to buy his peace with Mufti, and the PDP on its part has got a much-needed face-saver. But the message that has gone down with the armed forces is that national security is an issue that can be decided to suit the needs of our political masters.
In fact it’s this political flip-flop that the BJP was quick to cash in on.
"There has been a silent pull out of troops without informing the country. The Government should clarify on this issue," says BJP Spokesperson, Prakash Javdekar.
Either way, the Prime Minister will find himself on a sticky wicket on Monday. He will have to make a choice between political considerations on one side and the ground realities in Kashmir on the other.
(With inputs from Vishal Thapar)
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