Srinagar: National Conference Leader, Sheikh Nazir Ahmed has welcomed the decision of the Omar Abdullah-led State Government’s decision to review existing cases against 52 youth detained under various charges including stone pelting since 2010. Sheikh Nazir has said that this was a concrete step towards reconciliation and rehabilitation of youth booked under these cases and reflected Omar Abdullah’s commitment of empathy for the youth of this State.
While interacting with various party workers and leaders at his residence today, Sheikh Nazir Ahmed said that the Omar Abdullah government had achieved remarkable success in perceptibly improving the overall security and law and order situation in the State since the the last five and a half years despite the unfortunate turmoil of 2010. “Indices of violence have shown a constant and continuous declining trend of more than 70 percent over the last five years. Serious efforts have been made to relocate the security forces housed in Government and Private establishments across the State. In Addition, dozens of bunkers have been removed from public places in Srinagar city since 2009. All school and hospital premises have been cleared of security forces occupation”, Sheikh Nazir said.
Sheikh Nazir Ahmed said that pursuant to the leniency measures taken by the Omar Abdullah government in 2011 for the youth involved in incidents of stone pelting, amnesty has been granted to 1811 persons involved in 230 cases of stone pelting incidents in 2010 and 2011. Of the 230 cases, more than 220 were withdrawn. Sheikh Nazir Ahmed also said that the Omar Abdullah government took a significant, pro-youth decision in April 2012 by amending the J&K Public Safety Act and incorporating an amendment according which the person who has not attained the age of 18 years cannot be detained under PSA.
“These are concrete, actual facts not just theatrical lies like those fabricated and propagated by an opposition party – a party led by a person who is responsible for setting J&K on fire as the Home Minister of India in 1990 – a fire that engulfed thousands of homes and resulted in the bloodshed of thousands of our youth”, Sheikh Nazir said.
Sheikh Nazir Ahmed said that contrary to the propagandist lies of the opposition, the Omar Abdullah government simplified the procedure for issuance of clearance for passports which has speeded up and saved the disposal verifications from avoidable inconvenience. “More than 3 lakh passport verifications stand cleared since 2010 till date”, Sheikh Nazir said.
Speaking to various party workers and activists, Sheikh Nazir also appreciated the fact that the Omar Abdullah government had notified the Victim Compensation Schemes 2013 after making necessary amendments in the relevant section of the Code of Criminal Procedure, 1973. “More recently changes were made in SRO 43 by bringing victims of law and order situations like stone pelting under the ambit of compensation. This is yet another clear proof of this Government’s commitment to the cause of amnesty, reconciliation, and justice”, Sheikh Nazir Ahmed said.
Sheikh Nazir Ahmed said that one of the most significant steps towards rehabilitation was the fact that hundreds of Kashmiri youth have returned to their homes from across the Line of Control to settle here and resume their normal lives. “The implementation of the Rehabilitation Policy for the youth who had not indulged in any militancy act and wanted to return from across the Line of Control to their homes is a landmark measure taken to complete divided families and give these youth a shot at resuming their lives afresh”, Sheikh Nazir said.
Talking to party workers, Sheikh Nazir Ahmed said that the misinformation campaign of the opposition against National Conference was just a new chapter in the age-old enmity of these forces (under various banners) to fracture and weaken the National Conference and consequently the autonomous polity of Jammu and Kashmir.
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