Lambasting the Congress manifesto Sitharaman said “Is this right? It is an effort to weaken the armed forces. They are trying to dilute the immunity of our security forces,” she said while addressing a press briefing in the national capital.
The Defence Minister said the Congress also proposes to 'dilute' the powers of the district magistrates and maintained in such an eventuality, it will be difficult for administration and the law enforcement agencies to control the situation anywhere.
'I feel..... this will be several times terrorist-friendly and people can claim every such arrest is accompanied by sexual harassment or torture,' Sitharaman said, adding a complainant will always mention all these as the new law proposed by Congress will give them relief.
The Modi government in tandem with respective state governments has withdrawn AFSPA from Meghalaya and Tripura and most parts of Assam, she said, asking that from how many places did the Congress remove it when it was in power during 2004-14.
On the Congress's stand that powers of armed forces and human rights should be balanced, she said it should not be presumed that the former is against the latter.
"It does not portend well for unity of the country and the morale of armed forces," she said, attacking the Congress.