Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Ghulam Nabi Azad on Monday scotched accusations of spiraling human rights violations and proffered relative statistics to prove that his period as the chief minister has seen the least rights infringements.
Speaking in the Assembly in the backdrop of last week's unearthing of fake encounter killings, Azad said that with his takeover, human rights violations began to decrease.
"The count of custodial killing in the National Conference rule from 1996 to 2002 was 67 and 25 in the three years of Peoples Democratic Party led coalition government while it was only four in past one year," he said.
"Similarly, the cases of disappearances dropped down to six in the last one year in contrast to 18 in Peoples Democratic Party rule and 56 during the National Conference rule," the chief minister said.
He said, "Instances of taking cognisance of human rights violations by security forces has risen and since 1994 as many as 47 army personnel, 79 BSF personnel and 84 policemen have been penalized and punished for rights violations."
Azad said he will personally monitor the recommendations of the state human rights commission.
Responding to the suggestions from some members for withdrawal of security forces, Azad dropped a bombshell by offering to withdraw the security cover of the politicians who think the security scenario has improved in the state and that there was no need to keep them stationed in the valley.
"If political leaders of this thought are sure that the situation has changed and there is no need of having security forces to protect the human lives and property including them, they should write to me for removal of their security cover both personal guards and those guarding their families and residences. I will not wait for a day to recommend withdrawal of security forces," the chief minister said.
He advised the members not to pursue a policy of "running with the hare and hunting with the hounds on the issue of human rights."
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