Srinagar, Mar 27: Union Home Minister Amit Shah’s statement that the Centre would consider revoking the Armed Forces (Special Powers) Act from Jammu and Kashmir and that it has a roadmap to withdraw security forces from J&K was welcomed by the major political parties here Wednesday.
Talking to reporters in central Kashmir’s Budgam district, National Conference (NC) Vice President and former chief minister Omar Abdullah said, “If New Delhi is admitting everything is normal in J&K and even terrorism and separatism are over, then I believe it is high time to remove AFSPA and withdraw troops. There should be no need to wait further.”
He said that the way people of Ladakh had been cheated over the restoration of statehood and 6th Schedule, the same practice was being repeated with the people of J&K ahead of Lok Sabha polls.
Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) President and former chief minister Mehbooba Mufti termed the Union Minister’s statement regarding AFSPA revocation and withdrawal of troops from J&K an important part of the Agenda of Alliance (AoA) between PDP and Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP).
Taking to micro-blogging website X, she said: “PDP has consistently demanded the revocation of draconian AFSPA along with a gradual removal of troops. It also formulated an important part of our AoA wholeheartedly agreed upon by the BJP. Der aayee durust aaye (Better late than never)…”
Mehbooba expressed hope that the Centre would fulfill its commitment at least in this case since it would bring a huge relief to the people of J&K.
“To walk the talk, perhaps MHA can start by releasing journalists and thousands of young Kashmiri boys currently languishing in jails without any charges or prosecution,” she said.
Peoples Conference President and former minister Sajad Lone said that the removal of AFSPA would be an excellent step and people of Kashmir would welcome it.
In a post on X, Lone said let us take the Home Minister for his word and let us hope he honours his word.
“And to those Kashmiri leaders who ruled J&K and their national partners who brought in AFSPA and never took it back, can you please have the decency of shutting up,” he said.
Influential Shia leader and former minister Imran Raza Ansari welcomed the Union Home Minister’s statement over the revocation of AFSPA.
Talking to reporters, he said what better statement could the Home Minister give?
“This will pave the way for people to heave a sigh of relief. We should congratulate Amit Shah for recognising that these are draconian things. I found a lot of positivity in his interview. I think the Home Minister realises Kashmir has gone backwards during the past 40 years and wants Kashmiris to run the affairs of Kashmir,” Ansari said.