Mehbooba Mufti wants revocation of Special Powers Act for Kashmir

Srinagar, June 8 (ANI): Mehbooba Mufti, the President of People's Democratic Party (PDP), has asked Prime Minister Manmohan Singh to withdraw the Armed Forces Special Powers Act (AFSPA) deployed to tackle militancy in the valley.

Talking to reporters here after meeting with Prime Minister Manmohan Singh who is on a two-day visit to state, Mufti said: "It was very good meeting and the Prime Minister has been kind enough to give us very patient hearing. We did not say much but we have been all the time recommending revocation of AFSPA and the withdrawal of troops."

She also mentioned that the Prime Minister is very keen on taking the peace process forward and definitely wants a resolution to the strained relationship between India and Pakistan.

She said: I think the Prime Minister wants to take this peace process forward and he is very keen on this issue. I am definitely sure that he wants a resolution to the problem.

A delegation of National Conference led by its Vice President Chowdhury Mohammad Ramzan also called on the Prime Minister.

Later, briefing media persons, Ramzan said the government should take strict action against those who violate human rights in the region.

"We had a long meeting with the Prime Minister about the development of the State. We also talked about stopping the violation of human rights in the region. We want that the people involved in this should be booked and the government should take strict action against them so that things like this don't happen again," he added.

This is Dr. Singh's second visit to Jammu and Kashmir after being reelected as Prime Minister for a second consecutive term in the Congress-led United Progressive Alliance (UPA) Government. He visited Srinagar last October. (ANI)