Srinagar, Mar 27: While reacting to the statement of Union Home Minister Amit Shah regarding revocation of Armed Forces Special Powers Act (AFSPA) and withdrawal of troops, former Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah on Wednesday said that there was no need to wait further.
“When Government of India is saying that situation is normal, militancy and separatism are over in Jammu and Kashmir, then what stops them to remove AFSPA. Let they begin the process for its removal. I don’t think there is need to wait further,” Omar Abdullah told reporters on the sidelines of a political conclave in central Kashmir’s Budgam district.
He said National Conference also tried their best to remove AFSPA from Jammu and Kashmir.
He, however, took a dig at the Centre, saying: “The statement made by Union Home Minister Amit Shah is only a prank to the people of Jammu and Kashmir ahead of Lok Sabha elections”.
“The way people of Ladakh were being cheated on statehood and Sixth Schedule till date, the Union Home Minister is now hoodwinking people of Jammu and Kashmir ahead of Lok Sabha election,” Omar Abdullah said.
It is worthwhile to mention that Union Home Minister Amit Shah has said the Centre will consider revoking Armed Forces (Special Powers) Act from Jammu and Kashmir and that it has a roadmap to withdraw troops from the Union Territory.
In an interview to Jammu and Kashmir based Gulistan news channel, Shah said that the government will surely consider revoking AFSPA from Jammu and Kashmir in the future. “The situation is getting normal and we are speedily considering on revoking the AFSPA from Jammu and Kashmir and a state of change is being considered,” he added.