Manesar (Har), Oct 16: The Centre will wait for some more time before taking any decision on the demand for revocation of the controversial Armed Forces Special Powers Act (AFSPA) in Jammu and Kashmir, Union Home Minister Sushil Kumar Shinde said Tuesday.
Shinde, who recently visited Kashmir, however said it was not advisable to deploy paramilitary or Army personnel always for law and order duties. The Minister, who was talking to reporters on the sidelines of 28th NSG raising day here, also said the situation in the Valley has been peaceful this year.
“We will wait for some more time,” Shinde said in reply to a question whether it was a good time to withdraw AFSPA from the state.
“It’s not appropriate to keep military always on duty (law and order). It has been a peaceful year in the Valley. People there are very brave and we only want their cooperation,” he said.
Referring to his three-day visit to J&K, Shinde said he was happy to see smiles on faces of people in the Valley.
“I went to the market in a private car without any security and roamed as you people do in Delhi,” he said.
The Omar Abdullah government has been pressing for partial removal of AFSPA and earmarked Srinagar and Budgam district for pullout of Army personnel. Shinde had extensively toured Srinagar and also went to pray at Chrar-e-Sharief shrine located in Budgam district during his visit from October 12.

Lastupdate on : Tue, 16 Oct 2012 21:30:00 Makkah time
Lastupdate on : Tue, 16 Oct 2012 18:30:00 GMT
Lastupdate on : Wed, 17 Oct 2012 00:00:00 IST