New Delhi, Sept 1: The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) said Wednesday there are indications that the government “is all set for some panic steps” on Jammu and Kashmir.
“The statements by Prime Minister Manmohan Singh outside parliament and the statements by the Home Minister (P Chidambaram) both inside and outside the house show that the government is all set for some panic steps,” Leader of Opposition in Rajya Sabha Arun Jaitley said at a press conference here.
“I cannot say what steps,” he said, but added that there were indications that the government was planning amendments in the Armed Forces Special Powers Act.
“In that case, it will have an adverse impact on the morale of the security forces stationed in the border state,” Jaitley said.
Kashmir’s political parties, barring the Congress have been demanding the repeal of the act, which gives sweeping powers to the armed forces in their counter-insurgency operations.
Asked whether the government had discussed the situation in Kashmir with the BJP, Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha Sushma Swaraj, who also attended the press conference, said it had not.
“In fact, it was we who went to the prime minister and held talks on Kashmir. We took our nine legislators to the prime minister,” she said.

‘WHO IS RUNNING JK?’
PTO adds from Jammu: Who is running the government in Jammu and Kashmir? Syed Ali Shah Geelani or Omar Abdullah?
This was the question posed by BJP Mahila Morcha chief and small screen actress Smriti Irani at day-long conference of party’s state unit here today.
She alleged Chief Minister Omar Abdullah had failed to control law and order in the state which was deteriorating day by day.
On the other hand, separatist leader Geelani had been issuing calendars of protest for the past two months which were followed by youths, the actress-politician said.
The recent turmoil and cycle of violence showed the writ of the state government did not run, she said. “The government is seen nowhere in the state.”
“Therefore, I ask Omar who is running the government in the state, he or Geelani,” she said.
“People are also asking the same question. Omar should honestly reply to the question and should step down,” she said.
Hitting out at separatists, Smriti said they were misguiding and exploiting youths to create trouble in the valley.
She said she did not favour withdrawal of the Armed Forces Special Powers Act in Jammu and Kashmir.

Lastupdate on : Wed, 1 Sep 2010 21:30:00 Makkah time
Lastupdate on : Wed, 1 Sep 2010 18:30:00 GMT
Lastupdate on : Thu, 2 Sep 2010 00:00:00 IST