Union Home Minister Amit Shah lays a wreath during the Police Commemoration Day, at National Police Memorial in New Delhi, Friday, Oct. 21, 2022. (PTI Photo)Home Minister Amit Shah on Friday said the situation in Jammu and Kashmir has improved and youth, who used to hurl stones at security personnel earlier, have now become ‘panch’ and ‘sarpanch’, and participating in the development of the region in a democratic manner.
Addressing all chiefs of forces and paramilitary commanders at the National Police Memorial in Chanakyapuri on the occasion of National Police Commemoration Day, Shah said the security situation in the insurgency-hit areas of the Northeast and Jammu and Kashmir as well as in the states affected by Naxal violence has improved over the last eight years of the Narendra Modi government.
“There has been a positive change in the internal security of the country in the last few years. In the Northeast, we have removed the special powers given to the armed forces (under the AFSPA) and instead, given special powers to the youngsters there, resulting in a decline of violence in these areas by more than 70 per cent. 70 percent decline has been recorded in incidents of violence that were reported from insurgency-hit areas of the Northeast during this time period and this is a signal of improvement in the region,” he said.
“There used to be stone pelting by youth in Jammu and Kashmir too. Today, the same youth are engaged in the democratic development by becoming panch and sarpanch,” he added.
Shah said: “Today, I am satisfied that most of the hotspots in the country have been found to be almost free from anti-national activities. In the states affected by Left Wing Extremism (LWE), the national anthem is being sung in Eklavya schools, while the national flag flutters on these buildings. India is proceeding on the path of development due to the sacrifices made by the police and paramilitary personnel across the country.”
Paying tribute to these personnel, Shah said over 35,000 police and Central Armed Police Force (CAPF) personnel have given supreme sacrifice in the line of duty while protecting the country. “The country is progressing in every sector at present. After 75 years of independence, we can say that we are definitely moving towards our destination with strong willpower and speed. But the foundation of all these achievements is the supreme sacrifice of our soldiers,” he added.
“The Narendra Modi government is committed to the welfare of these personnel and the Home Ministry has taken proactive steps and achieved definite results in three areas — ensuring better healthcare, enhancing housing satisfaction and humanising the duty roster of the CAPF troops,” he said.