Srinagar, August 26, (Scoop News)- Holding PDP responsible for the unrest in the State, Minister for Rural Development & Panchayati Raj, Ali Mohammad Sagar today said in Legislative Assembly that their patron being Home Minister of India did not take appropriate steps to handle the situation in Jammu and Kashmir when the militancy initially erupted.
Replying to the debate on Adjournment Motion by the Opposition PDP in the House regarding granting amnesty to the youth who are detained under different charges, Sagar said the PDP itself responsible for instigating the innocent youth to indulge in different unlawful activities and now raising the bogies of granting them amnesty. The PDP encouraged militancy during its regime and its Patron as Union Home Minister allowed a genocide of Kashmiri Muslims. PDP has no moral right to plead the cause of youth detained under different charges.
Maintaining that more than 100 youth were killed during the Amarnath row in the State, Sagar said this episode is painful but is also the handiwork of PDP which was unnecessary created. They (the PDP) did not handle the situation appropriately that led to the ugly situation. Later, in 2010 also several innocent lives were lost in PDP sponsored agitation and this party has no moral right to defend the issues of detained youth, said Sagar.
Saying that the National Conference has fought the militancy with full might, the Minster said the party has given several sacrifices of its workers during past over two decades. The party has constantly worked for restoring the peace and development in the state and the reality can be gauged from the ground situation that record numbers of tourists are visiting the State every year. He also highlighted the achievements of the present government during the present tenure, adding that the newly created administrative units will start functioning from September this year which is biggest achievement of the Government. Raising the retirement age of employees and employment to thousands of youth or other welfare measures initiated by the Government, said Sagar.
Sagar said that 2114 youth are detained under different charges in different jails in the State and their cases are dealt under the law in different courts. He said Government has given amnesty to over 400 youth whose cases were not of serious nature and it would also be extended to many more adding that Chief Minister, Omar Abdullah will himself make necessary announcement in this regard at an appropriate time. Regarding withdrawal of AFSPA, Sagar said the Government’s stand is very clear on the issue and it will continue to pursue the issue with the Central Government.
Earlier, moving the Adjournment Motion, Abdul Rehman Veeri alleged that Government has detained over 2400 youth in different jails under PSA and demanded withdrawal of FIRs against them. He maintained that the future of such youth is in dark and they should be given amnesty so that they can lead a normal life. He also pinpointed deficiencies in the functioning of the government.
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