J&K Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti Announces Amnesty To Youth Involved In Cases During 2016 Unrest

In a major decision, Chief Minister, Mehbooba Mufti today announced a grant of amnesty against youth involved in various cases during the unrest of 2016.

 She appealed all shades of opinion in the State and the country to come forward and help in the getting the State out of present uncertainties and bloodshed.

Replying to the discussion on Motion of Thanks on Governor’s Address in the legislative Assembly in Jammu, the Chief Minister said she directed the withdrawal of cases against 4327 youths recently and even constituted a committee to review the cases against youth registered during the unrest of 2016. “I am happy that we have decided to grant amnesty to them also, roughly making it to around nine thousand youth”, she said.

 Mehbooba said she has asked the Police to ensure that the local boys who have joined militant ranks should be helped to come back to their families and friends. “It’s my endeavour to bring them back and ensure no harassment to them. Many have come back but I regret the glorification of violence by some people on social media”, she told the House.

 Terming dialogue as the only way ahead, the Chief Minister said appointment of Dineshwar Sharma, with the rank of Cabinet Secretary, as interlocutor last year was a major decision to undertake sustained dialogue in the State. She hoped that people from different shades of opinion would join the consultation process initiated by Sharma and it moves ahead with positivity.

 Mehbooba said the mandate given to him is clear and categorical. “He has been appointed to carry forward the dialogue process in the State in a sustained manner”, she said adding that the need of the hour is to get the State out of the vicious  cycle of violence. She appealed all shades of opinion in the State and the Country to come forward and play their role in getting Jammu & Kashmir out of uncertainties and bloodshed.

 Welcoming the reports of recent meeting of National Security Advisors of India and Pakistan, Mehbooba said she wishes normalisation of relations between the two countries adding that she wants the State to become a bridge of faith and trust between the two countries. She said Jammu & Kashmir has a strategic location which should be exploited for positive and gainful results. “Why can’t we be gateway to Central Asia. We should be part of the Silk Route. Let us explore the opportunities of Tashkant, Kashgar, Iran etc. which have been the historic routes through which Islam came to Kashmir”, she said. “It was this tolerant Islam which groomed us to think on rational and humanitarian lines while deciding our fate in 1947. Let us go back to our routes”, she said.

 The Chief Minister said the pellet victims whose vision got impaired were given financial assistance and even jobs. “Unfortunate, it should have not happened. We tried to rehabilitate them. We are still on it. Pellet victim Insha was given Gas agency to stand up on her feet”, she informed the House adding that these persons would be given special training in collaboration with a local institution so that they don’t have to depend on anybody for the rest of their life.

The Chief Minister said to empower people at grass root levels, her Government intends to hold elections to panchayats and urban local local bodies and put in place a three tier governance apparatus in the State.

 The Chief Minister said a lot was done during the last three years by the Government but could not be highlighted because political scenario always dominates the scene in the State and the country.

 The Chief Minister said J&K Police which is on the fore front of managing the situation in the State had issues pending for long. The cadre review of Kashmir Police Service was undertaken, ex gratia amount for the cops was increased by three times, backlog of SRO-43 of around 1000 cases was cleared and quotas for promotions in constabulary were earmarked for their timely career progression, she informed the House.