SRINAGAR: BJP leader and defence minister Nirmala Sitharaman said that Congress's plan to review AFSPA will affect morale of armed forces. She told reporters that the Congress manifesto, which was released yesterday, are not in national interest and indirectly helps others working against the country. Nirmala Sitharaman cited Congress's promise to review the Armed Forces (Special Powers) Act (AFSPA) and to repeal Section 124A (sedition law) of the Indian Penal Code to attack the party.
Nirmala Sitharaman insisted that her party was not against withdrawing the AFSPA, if situation permitted it, but the Congress's promise to tweak its provisions, if voted to power, will allow terrorists and their friends to target security personnel with manufactured allegations. "It does not portend well for unity of the country and the morale of armed forces," she said, attacking the Congress.