Centre Will Consider Revoking AFSPA In J&K: Amit Shah
The Centre government will consider revoking the Armed Forces (Special Powers) Act (AFSPA) in Jammu and Kashmir, Union Home Minister Amit Shah said. Home Minister made the statement in an interview with the JK Media Group on Tuesday.
The Centre is planning to be pull back troops from their order of duties in Jammu and Kashmir, and then to “leave law and order to the Jammu and Kashmir Police alone,” he added. He then said that earlier J&K police were not trusted, and now they are at the forefront of operations.
The controversial AFSPA entrusts armed forces personnel withe special powers to maintain public order in “disturbed areas”. From time to time, the act was in practice in J&K and certain states in the northeastern region. Earlier, the Union Minister has said that AFSPA has been removed in 70 percent of the region in the northeast. However, the provision has been extant in J&K.
Besides, Amit Shah said the Assembly Polls in J&K will be conducted before September and the Supreme Court has directed in this regard. “Enshrining democracy in Jammu and Kashmir is Prime Minister Narendra Modi”s promise and it will be fulfilled. However, this democracy will not be confined to three families alone and will be a people”s democracy,” PTI quotes as Home Minister is saying.
On the subject of granting reservations, Union Minister responded for the first time, and stated that the OBC community of the J&K will receive reservation and by gaining one-third reservation women will also reap its rewards.
“OBC reservations have been made in the panchayat and the urban local bodies. We have made space for the SCs and the STs. Without reducing the share of the Gujjar and Bakarwals, the Pahadis have been given 10 per cent reservation. And special provisions have been made to accommodate the displaced people from Pakistan-occupied Kashmir,” Minister added.
Continuing further, Union Minister has also criticised National Conference (NC) leader Farooq Abdullah and PDP chief Mehbooba Mufti on their attempts at creating resentment in the minds of J&K people on reservation. He has also talked about terrorism and fake encounters took place in the previous regime. The Central government has banned over 12 organisations for their participation in terror activities and 36 individuals were designated as terrorists, he said.
