While the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) is silent on the Hurriyat chief’s demand for removal of armed forces camps from civilian areas of Kashmir, its coalition partner BJP has reacted sharply saying the demand was illogical and politically motivated.

Hurriyat chief Syed Ali Shah Geelani had on Thursday demanded that the camps of Army and security forces should be removed from the civilian areas as these were a source of “harassment and nuisance” to the people.

State BJP spokesman Brigadier (Retired) Anil Gupta condemned Geelani’s demand and said the demand was politically motivated with a view to provide a free run to terrorists.

In a statement issued on Friday, Gupta said the nexus between the Hurriyat and the terrorists had been well established. “The Hurriyat not only provides them a network of over ground workers (OGWs) but also acts as a conduit for financing the terror operations,” he alleged.

Gupta warned that any attempt to remove these camps from civilian areas would tantamount to weakening the successful anti-terror grid established by the security forces. “This move will enable terrorists to seek shelter in built-up areas thus putting to danger the lives of local civilians. The flow of intelligence would also be affected. It would also hamper the smooth conduct of anti-terror operations by the security forces increasing the chances of collateral damage,” he said.

Gupta said it sounded very ironical that the Hurriyat considered presence of forces in the civilian areas as an act of human rights violations but maintained a stoic silence when innocent Kashmiris were killed by terrorists in the name of jihad. “No Hurriyat leader ever expresses concern at unprovoked attacks by the terrorists on the security forces who are deployed to ensure safety and security of Kashmiri masses. How does Hurriyat justify the latest barbaric attack on a Kashmiri Special Police Officer (SPO) of Jammu & Kashmir Police (JKP) killing him and critically injuring his wife by the coward terrorists in his residence at Bijbehara?” Gupta questioned.

Instead of demanding weakening of the security grid through removal of forces camps, Geelani should dismantle the over-ground workers’ network and appeal to the sympathisers to stop supporting the terrorists and instead help the security forces in ending the menace of terrorism in Kashmir thus restoring its pristine fame and charm, said Gupta.

“I hope the separatist leadership realises the futility of confrontationist approach and the reality dawns on them that integration of Jammu & Kashmir with India is non-negotiable and irreversible. Pakistan’s role is restricted only and only to vacating the areas of the state occupied by it illegally. The future of Jammu & Kashmir is safe only in the hands of India. Any grievances or disputes need to be resolved peacefully within the ambit of the Constitution of India,” stated Gupta.