Amit Shah Says Narendra Modi Govt Will Consider Revoking AFSPA In Jammu and Kashmir

In a conversation with JK media group, Union Home Minister Amit Shah said that the Narendra Modi government will consider revoking the Armed Forces (Special Powers) Act in Jammu and Kashmir, if voted back to power.

Amit Shah said, "We have plans to pull back troops and leave law and order to the Jammu and Kashmir Police alone. Earlier Jammu and Kashmir police were not trusted but today they are leading operations. We will also think of revoking AFSPA."

For the unversed, AFSPA gives special powers to the armed personnel to enter, search, and arrest anyone in Jammu and Kashmir. The armed forces also have special powers to open fire if needed to "maintenance of public order".

Earlier, the Home Minster had claimed that the need for AFSPA ended near to 70 percent and the government would think on its removal when the conditions become 100% normal in all regions of Jammu and Kashmir.

Speaking over terrorism in the valley, Amit Shah targetted Farooq Abdullah and Mehbooba Mufti, stating that the National Conference (NC) and the People's Democratic Party (PDP) have no right to speak on terrorism as they did nothing to curb tension in valley.

"The number of fake encounters that took place during their time has never been matched by any other regime. In the last five years, not a single fake encounter has taken place. Rather the FIRs have been lodged against the people involved in fake encounters," Amit Shah added.

"We will have a dialogue with the youths of Kashmir and not with the organizations that have roots in Pakistan. They are responsible for the deaths of 40,000 youths," he further added.