Remove AFSPA from J&K first: Sakina Itoo

Srinagar, Jun 12: Jammu and Kashmir education and health minister Sakina Itoo on Friday called for the removal of the Armed Forces (Special Powers) Act (AFSPA) from the Union Territory, asserting that the improved security situation and absence of stone-pelting warranted the repeal at par with the Northeast.
“If it is better, then it should be removed from here too. If they say that the situation has improved, now there is nothing here. Now there are no stones, nothing is happening. After that, I think it should be removed from here first,” the Health and Education minister said.

Her remarks came a day after Union Home Minister Amit Shah announced that AFSPA would be completely withdrawn from the Northeast barring one state, citing a sharp decline in insurgency and improved law and order.
When asked about expectations regarding J&K in light of the improved security scenario, minister Itoo said the same logic should apply to the Valley.
On the demand for restoration of statehood, minsiter Itoo said the cabinet has already passed a resolution which was sent to Delhi through the Lieutenant Governor.
“We have been trying for two years. Our Chief Minister has raised this demand many times. We are not asking for anything new – statehood was already there. We hope it will be returned,” she said.
Meanwhile, speaking on teachers shortage, The minister also flagged the issue of over 14,000 teachers being deputed for census duty, causing mid-session studies and exams to suffer.
“We have written many times. We will try to write further so that children’s studies do not suffer,” she added. (KNS)