Medha begins yatra for AFSPA revocation
Social activists Medha Patkar and Magsaysay award winner Sandeep Pandey on Sunday started a countrywide ''yatra'' from the Hazratbal shrine on Sunday for revocation of the draconian Armed Forces Special Powers Act (AFSPA).
Medha appealed to the Centre not to solve the Kashmir issue at gun point. “This is a political issue and needs a solution within the Indian Constitution through talks. The AFSPA gives extraordinary powers to men in uniform and they misuse the powers creating a wedge between them and the masses. This law should go to save humanity and reduce hatred among different sections of society,” she said.
The social worker said she salutes the 11-year-old struggle of Irom Sharmila, a peace activist from the northeast state of Manipur, for the revocation of the AFSPA. “If the hunger strike by Anna Hazare for some days against corruption created an impact in the country, why the countrymen are silent over the struggle by Irom against the AFSPA,” she said.
