SRINAGAR: Former Jammu and Kashmir chief minister and PDP chief Mehbooba Mufti has concurred with National Conference leader Omar Abdullah over Congress promising in its manifesto a review of the Armed Forces (Special Powers) Act.
“I welcome it. It was our agenda when we were in coalition with BJP to revoke AFSPA , to recall security forces from civilian areas, to have dialogue with representatives of separatists and Pakistan. I am happy Congress has included it in their manifetso. I am happy that the party has included AFSPA in its manifesto,” Mehbooba said
Omar Abdullah who is in coalition with the Congress for the Lok Sabha elections 2019 in the state and have joined hands in the past.
“I wish they would have done this when I was the CM, I don’t want to take names but there were senior Kashmir leaders who did not support me then. but now today that Congress has mentioned it, I welcome this,” he said.
The Congress in their manifesto has said that it would review the Armed Forces (Special Powers) Act and the Disturbed Areas Act in the state and ‘suitable’ changes will be made to balance the requirement of security and ‘protection of Human Rights’.
The party has said that it has been witness to the developments in the conflicted state since the Instrument of Accession that was signed on October 26, 1947. It further affirmed that ‘the whole of Jammu and Kashmir is a part of India’
The party also said that it continues to maintain its stand on Article 370 of the Constitution adding it has ascertained that ‘nothing will be done or allowed to change the Constitutional position’. (PTK)
