• Source:JND
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Union Minister Amit Shah on Tuesday said the government was mulling revoking the Armed Forces (Special Powers) Act in Jammu and Kashmir. Home Minister Shah said the troops will soon be pulled back from the UT and the police of JK will alone manage the law and order.

"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 were not trusted but today they are leading the operations," news agency PTI quoted HM as saying.

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"We will also think of revoking AFSPA," he added.

The AFSPA is a provision which gives autonomy to armed forces to manage law and order in the disturbed areas. The act is at times in place in JK and certain states in the northeastern region. Home Minister Amit Shah, however, said the provision has been removed in 70 per cent of areas in the northeast.

People have been perpetually demanding the removal of this provision from these areas.    

On granting statehood and conducting the Assembly election in JK, HM Shah said polls will be held there before September.  "Enshrining democracy in Jammu and Kashmir is Prime Minister Narendra Modi's promise and it will be fulfilled. However, this democracy will not be confined to three families alone and will be a people's democracy," he said.

The Supreme Court had asked the Centre to ensure poll exercise in JK before September.

HM Shah also addressed the issue of reservation in JK and asserted the OBC community of the UT will for the first time get the benefit of reservation. The women will also reap the benefits of one-third reservation.

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"OBC reservations have been made in the panchayat and the urban local bodies. We have made space for the SCs and the STs. Without reducing the share of the Gujjar and Bakarwals, the Pahadis have been given 10 per cent reservation. And special provisions have been made to accommodate the displaced people from Pakistan-occupied Kashmir," he said.

He also rebuked PDP and NC for overlooking JK. He said the Centre has banned over 12 organisations involved in promoting terror in JK. Besides, 36 individuals were designated as terrorists.