Centre compromising on democratic fundamentals: PDP

The main opposition in Jammu and Kashmir, Peoples Democratic Party, on Monday accused the Centre of compromising on the country's democratic fundamentals by ruling out troop reduction and revocation of Armed Forces Special Powers Act (AFSPA) in the state.

"By repeatedly emphasising the need for retention of draconian laws and continued deployment of security forces to administer civilian areas, government of India seems to be conveying a message that the state is part of the country only through force," PDP President Mehbooba Mufti said.

"This works against the efforts to find an amicable solution for which dialogue is prescribed and interlocution initiated," she said.

Mufti said the "overemphasis on military means" could be interpreted as an acknowledgment of the "inability to win hearts and minds of the people".

"The trust deficit between the people and the government can not be bridged by hawkish approach, draconian laws and continuation of huge presence of forces in the state," she said.