Srinagar: Several political parties have opposed Centre’s move to form village defence committees across Jammu and Kashmir saying the move contradicted the government claims about normalcy in the union territory.
“MHAs (Ministry of Home Affairs) move to form Village Defence Committees across J&K is another addition to a slew of decisions that contradict GOIs (Government of India) much touted normalcy claims. Clearly J&K is far from any semblance of normalcy. It will also create a wedge between communities,” Mehbooba Mufti tweeted.
The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) chief was reacting to the Centre’s decision to revive the village defence committees which were redesignated as village defence groups (VDGs).
They were first formed in the 1990s in Jammu and Kashmir to fight militancy.
National Conference (NC) spokesman, Imran Nabi Dar described the move as “a stark acceptance by the government of India that the situation is not good in Jammu and Kashmir.
He said that the group should not be formed in a way that would put communities against each other as has happened in the past.
Peoples Conference (PC) also opposed the move saying “it is a disturbing development as the actions of VDCs in the past are known to all and it creates a perception that one community is being armed and supported by the government, which in result may not be conducive for maintenance of peace in mixed populations.”
PC spokesman Adnan Ashraf said: “Recent history is witness how VDC members committed atrocities on people of that region and that was the reason to ban these committees. The government should revisit its decision to create VDGs and if the law and order in such areas is not under control, the state police force has enough manpower and ability to maintain the same.”
CPI (M) senior leader and former Kulgam legislator, Muhammad Yousuf Tarigami said that the decision must be revisited as it is unwarranted amid the government claims about normalcy and decline in violence.
“There are reportedly dozens of cases registered in Police Stations against the misconduct of many of VDCs, which were constituted at a time when the militancy was on rise and now when the government claims that violence has come down and normalcy is restored then what is the necessity of reconstituting VDGs,” he said.
Apni Party spokesman, Javid Hassan Beig told KNO that the government should have instead strengthened the security grid rather than providing weapons to the civilians.
“To curb militancy, such measures are being taken, but at the same time, there is every possibility of repercussion when a civilian is being asked to take a weapon. I believe that it is the belt and uniform that makes a person accountable, but in the case of civilians, there is hardly any possibility of accountability,” he said, adding that the government should have focused on strengthening the security grid by coming up with fresh recruitments in police and other forces.
