The Government of India’s special representative, Dineshwar Sharma, who is visiting the state from 24th of this monthTuesday, said that the centre government has asked the state government for granting amnesty to youth who are accused of being involved first time in the Kashmir valley.
Talking to KNS over phone Sharma said that he is visiting Jammu on November 24 and Kashmir on November 26.
Sharma, who has been accorded cabinet secretary rank by GoI, said that the Home Ministry has asked the state government to “give amnesty to first time stone pelters,” Sharma told KNS.
“I think the MHA (Ministry of Home Affairs) has formally announced something and they are advising the state government to give amnesty to first-time stone pelters,” Sharma told KNS.
However, he refused to talk whether giving amnesty was suggested by him to the Government of India after he had concluded his visit to the state.
Officials in the state home department told KNS that they have not yet received any such official communication about the purported decision of GoI.
A report in Hindustan Times cited that the government is likely to announce an amnesty scheme for stone pelters in the Kashmir Valley and withdraw cases against first-time offenders.
Quoting senior government officials, the report said that the scheme was discussed between officials from the state and the Centre and is likely to be announced as a show of good faith ahead of Sharma’s second visit to the state later this month.
“There are thousands of youth facing FIRs and we will be withdrawing cases against first-time stone pelters as a goodwill gesture,’’ Hindustan Times quoted a home ministry official in the report.
Former chief minister Omar Abdullah said the state government should have taken the decision.
““Centre’s big amnesty push”! Looks like Mehbooba Mufti’s only job is to take instructions from the Central Govt. This should have been a State Govt decision. (sic),” Omar retweeted a tweet by a journalist, Vajaita Singh, who works with The Hindu newspaper. (KNS)