Communist Party of India (Marxist) [CPI(M)] State secretary Kodiyeri Balakrishnan has defended his statement criticising the Armed Forces (Special Powers) Act [AFSPA] and has alleged that a news channel has twisted his remarks out of context to sound as if he is criticising the Indian Army.
He told the media here on Sunday that by recommending the imposition of AFSPA in Kannur district, the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) was trying to use the Army for its political gains. “In States such as Manipur and Jammu and Kashmir, the people, especially women, have revolted against it. We won’t allow it to be enforced in Kannur,” he said.
Mr. Balakrishnan alleged that the attempt would be to pit the Army against the minorities, backward classes, and communists. He cited the report of the Santosh Hegde committee, appointed by the Supreme Court to investigate encounter killings in Manipur, which pointed out the human rights violations committed by the Army in Manipur. “The court has directed the authorities to file cases against the culprits. I have only spoken against the misuse of AFSPA,” he said.
Asked about the Pakistani media lapping up his statement in defence of their allegations against the Army, Mr. Balakrishnan said that it was the RSS propaganda against him which led to such a situation.
“It was the RSS which started propagating the lie that I had spoken against the Army. They are now indirectly helping Pakistan to point its fingers towards India,” he said.
Attending a political event recently, Mr. Balakrishnan was quoted as saying by a Malayalam channel that if the AFSPA was imposed on Kannur, it would “give the Army unquestionable powers and they will even abduct and rape women.”
Mr. Balakrishnan rebuffed the allegation that the State government had ignored Administrative Reforms Commission chairman V.S. Achuthanandan by not inviting him to a function to mark the first anniversary of the Left Democratic Front government. “I am the State secretary of the ruling party. Even I have not been invited. The function is for the Ministers and those in the government,” he added.
