Ramvilas Paswan backs withdrawal of AFSPA from Kashmir

Ramvilas Paswan's LJP Saturday backed Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah's move for withdrawing AFSPA from certain areas of the state, saying it will help restore normalcy in the state.

"The LJP strongly endorses the proposal to withdraw AFSPA from a few districts in Kashmir, especially in the context of the recent report that terrorism-related and violent death fatalities are considerably fewer in the Valley than in many other states in the country," LJP secretary general Abdul Khaliq said here.

Paswan was a member of the all-party delegation which had visited Jammu and Kashmir few months back as part of the Centre's initiative to reach out to the people.

He has also been visiting the state separately on many occasions since then and held deliberations with Kashmiri leader including Hurriyat chief Syed Ali Shah Geelani there.

Khaliq said the Government should waste no further time in withdrawing the Act.

He claimed that "since the imposition of AFSPA in Kashmir in 1990, there has, been a manifold increase of violence in the State when compared with the earlier decades."

When no area in the country is totally immune from deadly terrorist embrace, the argument that AFSPA is vital to tackle terror in Kashmir is far from convincing, he said urging the government to take necessary steps for phased withdrawal of AFSPA and thereby restore normalcy in Kashmir.

BJP has opposed withdrawing the AFSPA while Congress has reacted cautiously on the issue, saying it is a complex issue and should be decided after consultation with all the stake holders including the Army.