Srinagar, Jan 15: The National Conference on Saturday said the central government’s plan to reduce the number of forces operating in Jammu Kashmir was the result of efforts by Chief Minister Omar Abdullah.
The NC core group members including Sharief-ud-Din Shariq, Dr Mehboob Beg, Chowdhary Muhammad Ramzan and Muhammad Shafi Uri, in joint statement said, “The troop reduction, removal of bunkers and withdrawal of Disturbed Area Act and AFSPA were basic demands of the Chief Minister Omar Abdullah for restoration of peace in the state. During his election campaign he had promised the people that he would press these demands very vigorously.”
Home Secretary Gopal K Pillia on Friday said Centre was considering reducing the strength of security forces deployed in Jammu and Kashmir by 25 percent as a confidence building measure.
The members blamed the former Home Minister Mufti Muhammad Sayeed for ‘invoking all black laws’ and massive forces concentration in Jammu & Kashmir.
Meanwhile, the NC president and union minister for new and renewable energy Dr Farooq Abdullah has asked the administration to gear up its men and machinery to ensure removal of snow from all roads and restoration of power supply to all areas on war footing. “The administration should take all necessary steps to alleviate people’s hardships arising from heavy snowfall. People should in no way face any difficulty for want of essential commodities like LPG, kerosene, ration, etc. The gas agencies should ensure availability of sufficient number of LPG cylinders in their respective areas of operation,” he said.

Lastupdate on : Sat, 15 Jan 2011 21:30:00 Makkah time
Lastupdate on : Sat, 15 Jan 2011 18:30:00 GMT
Lastupdate on : Sun, 16 Jan 2011 00:00:00 IST