Srinagar, Dec 7: The Chief Minister of Indian administered Kashmir Omar Abdullah Wednesday again favoured the removal of Armed Forces Special Powers Act (AFSPA), giving impunity to Indian soldiers for their acts in Kashmir, from the region saying Kashmiri people have the right to relish peace benefits.
“My initiative regarding the gradual revocation of laws like AFSPA in the areas where the role of the Army has ended, due to the restoration of peaceful situation, relates to the commitments made to people,” Omar said while addressing a public function in North Kashmir after the launch of the Comprehensive Management Action Plan for preservation and conservation of world famous and one of the largest fresh water lakes in Asia ‘Wular’ Lake.
He said Kashmiri people have the right to relish peace benefits in the region.
Omar has been stressing for the removal of AFSPA from the region from quite some time now. However, the Indian army and defence ministry are strongly opposed to the AFSPA removal from the region saying that the army will become handicap and this would led to the rise in militancy in the region.
The Chief Minister said a peaceful and prosperous Kashmir is his mission. “We would take all efforts in this direction. The government efforts only would not yield desirable results unless people in general and agencies connected in particular work jointly to achieve this stupendous goal,” he said.
