BJP slams Centre over JK troop withdrawal

Accusing the government of engaging in a 'game of quiet diplomacy' with certain groups in Jammu and Kashmir, a Bharatiya Janata Party Member of Parliament on Monday claimed it was playing into their hands by withdrawing 30,000 troops from the state.

Referring to Defence Minister A K Antony's reported statement last week that 30,000 troops have been withdrawn from the state in the wake of improvement in the security situation there, BJP leader S S Ahluwalia said during Zero Hour in Rajya Sabha that a 'game of quiet diplomacy is being played with certain groups'.

Without naming the separatists, the BJP leader said, "There are secret meetings held with them by the government and gradually their conditions are being accepted".

Ahluwalia wondered how there could be peace in the state when the Disturbed Areas Act has been applied in Rajouri and Poonch regions which share their borders with Pakistan.

"These groups want withdrawal of troops, and these people also seek autonomy for the region. The government did not take the Parliament into confidence before withdrawing troops and the defence minister's statement came after the Lok Sabha had been adjourned sine die," he alleged.

The BJP leader sought to know from the government whether extremism had ended in the state as it had started withdrawing its troops.