Will withdraw army from Jammu and Kashmir; Centre planning to give law and order responsibility to police, says Amit Shah

NEW DELHI: Union Home Minister Amit Shah said that the Centre will consider revoking the Armed Forces (Special Powers) Act in Jammu and Kashmir. He said this in an interview given to JK Media Group. Amit Shah stated that the government has a plan to withdraw the army from Jammu and Kashmir and leave the law and order responsibility to the state police.

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

Speaking about AFSPA, the Union Minister that the Centre will think of revoking the controversial law. AFSPA is a law that gives special powers to the army in troubled areas. The law gives the army the power to search, arrest and open fire if they deem it necessary for "the maintenance of public order".

He said that although AFSPA is in force in Jammu and Kashmir, it has been repealed in 70 per cent of areas of North Eastern states. Amit Shah also said assembly elections will be held in Jammu and Kashmir before September.

"It is Prime Minister Narendra Modi's promise to ensure democracy in Jammu and Kashmir and it will be implemented. However, this democracy will not be confined to only three families. It will be people's democracy," he said.