Srinagar, May 7(ANI): Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah on Monday said that the Armed Forces Special Power Act (AFSPA) would soon be revoked from areas where the presence of the Army is not required.
“I believe that in the months ahead you will definitely see forward movement on the selective revocation of the Armed Forces Special Power Act (AFSPA) from parts of the state,” Abdullah told mediapersons, while presiding over the civil secretariat here.
Mehbooba Mufti, chief of People’s Democratic Party (PDP), had recently accused the government of not having the political will to have the controversial Act repealed.
This was Abdullah’s first day at office since the secretariat’s shifting from the winter capital Jammu.
“After the span of six months, the secretariat has started functioning in Srinagar and we have come here with a hope that the coming six months would be beneficial for the people and we get the support of people like last year,” he said.
Referred to as the ‘Durbar Move’ in local lexicon, this annual century-old tradition reportedly costs the state exchequer over Rs. 100 million annually.
Abdullah said the government will try to honour the commitments it has made to the people.
“We would try our level best to fulfill the promises and commitments made by the government. Efforts would be made so that there is no laxity on the part of the government and we are able to maintain peace and order in the state,” Abdullah added.
Srinagar is located 300 kilometers north of Jammu. The state government secretariat shifts every spring and autumn between the two capitals in conformity with changing weather patterns.
Read more / Original news source: http://manipur-mail.com/government-working-towards-afspa-revocation-omar/
