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NEW DELHI: The Armed Forces Special Powers Act (AFSPA) is being amended and the government is looking at limiting the application of the legislation to some areas, Home Minister P Chidambaram said here Saturday.
Chidambaram said that the Centre would have to take a decision on restricting the application of the controversial Act in some areas. The Act is currently enforced in Jammu and Kashmir and some parts of the Northeast.
“The AFSPA amendments are getting ready,” he told reporters at a monthly press briefing here.
Political parties in Jammu and Kashmir have been demanding repeal of AFSPA contending that they give unfettered powers to armed forces, whom they accuse of high-handedness.
Chief Minister Omar Abdullah had also demanded withdrawal of the Act from the state and there have been deliberations with the armed forces over the issue.
“At the moment, we are looking at the amendments to the AFSPA. I cannot disclose the nature of the amendments because that has to go through the Cabinet process.
“We are also looking at limiting the application of the AFSPA to some areas,” Chidambaram said in response to a question over withdrawal of the Act from Jammu and Kashmir.
“That (limiting the application) is the goal over a period of time. In consultation with the state government, we will have to take a look at that,” he said.
On the issue of withdrawal of Armed Forces Special Powers Act from some of the districts in Jammu and Kashmir, the Home Minister said the ministry was looking at possible amendments to the Act “to limit its application”.
“We promised to revisit the subject after the elections.
At the moment we are looking at the amendments to AFSPA. I cannot disclose the initial amendments because it has to go through the cabinet process,” Chidambaram said.
He said, “We are also looking at limiting the application of AFSPA in some areas. But that will evolved over a period of time”.