J&K: AFSPA may be revoked if conditions conducive
SRINAGAR: Union home minister Rajnath Singh has said revocation of the controversial Armed Forces Special Powers Act (AFSPA) in Jammu and Kashmir is not ruled out yet. Speaking to reporters after a visit to the holy Amarnath Shrine on Thursday, Singh said ASFPA can be removed once the conditions in the state are conducive and there is overall improvement in the situation.
SRINAGAR: Union home minister Rajnath Singh has said revocation of the controversial Armed Forces Special Powers Act (AFSPA) in Jammu and Kashmir is not ruled out yet.
Speaking to reporters after a visit to the holy Amarnath Shrine on Thursday, Singh said ASFPA can be removed once the conditions in the state are conducive and there is overall improvement in the situation.
“I pray to God that the situation would reach a state that ASFPA wouldn’t be needed anywhere in the country. We will need cooperation of one and all to achieve this goal,” he said.
“I am confident the situation in Kashmir will not be allowed to deteriorate. We need the cooperation of the people of Jammu and Kashmir to improve it,” he added.
The Union minister said that the government sincerely wants to have friendly relations with all neighbouring countries, including Pakistan, but Islamabad needs to rethink its approach.
“We made our intention clear on the day of oath ceremony (of Prime Minister Narendra Modi). If it were not our intention to improve our relations with Pakistan, perhaps our Prime Minister would not have invited the Pakistan PM to the oath ceremony,” Singh said. He, however, ruled out any talks with separatists.
Expressing satisfaction over the security and other arrangements for the Amarnath Yatra, Singh commented that the pilgrims seemed ‘more satisfied than before’.
I PRAY TO GOD THAT THE SITUATION WOULD REACH A STATE THAT ASFPA WOULDN’T BE NEEDED ANYWHERE IN THE COUNTRY. WE WILL NEED COOPERATION OF ONE AND ALL TO ACHIEVE THIS GOAL
RAJNATH SINGH, Union home minister
The Amarnath Yatra began on Thursday with more than 10,000 pilgrims visiting the cave shrine on the first day. Singh visited the holy cave shrine early on Thursday. He said he was satisfied with the on-the-spot feedback from the pilgrims, who expressed happiness over the arrangements.
Singh also met gover nor NN Vohra at the Raj Bhavan in Srinagar and had extensive discussions about issues relating to external and internal security management. According to a government spokesman, they also discussed matters relating to relief and rehabilitation of the flood victims and the arrangements for the ongoing Amarnath Yatra.