Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, Feb 16: Union Home Minister Amit Shah today said after the abrogation of the provisions of Article 370 of the Constitution in 2019, Jammu and Kashmir has seen a huge change with a reduction in terror activities and resumption of tourism.
“After the abrogation of Article 370 in Kashmir, our security agencies have complete dominance over terrorism. According to the latest data from Jammu and Kashmir, there has been a huge decline in terrorist incidents. Crores of people are visiting Kashmir for tourism. Instead of incidents of stone-pelting, processions and bandhs that used to happen earlier, today the whole of Kashmir is free from these incidents and welcoming lakhs of tourists,” he said while speaking at 76th Raising Day Parade of the Delhi Police in the Union capital.
“Left-wing extremism had been a matter of great concern for our country for many decades, but now it has decreased drastically. The lowest figures of left-wing extremism violence have been witnessed in 2022. It has now been confined to the area under 46 police stations only, which is a huge achievement,” he said.
Shah said earlier, many groups spreading insurgency were active in the northeast, but now, peace has been established there and the Armed Forces (Special Powers) Act (AFSPA) removed from 60 per cent area in the region. More than 8,000 youngsters in the northeast have given up arms and joined the mainstream, he added.
The Delhi Police has left no stone unturned to strengthen the “NashaMukt Bharat Abhiyan” launched by the Centre under Modi’s leadership, Shah said.
He asserted that 2023 will be a significant year for the Delhi Police as it will have to stay alert for the upcoming G20 summit, which will be attended by dignitaries from across the world.
Shah inaugurated an online facility for passport verification — mPassport Seva — and dedicated the mobile forensic vehicles inducted into the Delhi Police to people. He also inaugurated the academic complex of the National Forensic Science University’s (NFSU) Delhi campus.
“People living in Delhi will no longer have to worry about their passports as they will now get the police clearance within five days as against the earlier 15 days. A facility for passport verification through mobile phones and tablet computers has been launched. On an average, 2,000 applications for passports are received on a daily basis and their online processing will reduce the problems faced by people,” he said.
The Home Minister said with India assuming the presidency of Group of 20 (G20), the year 2023 assumes significance.
“The year 2023 is very important for the Delhi Police. From the point of view of security and the traffic system during the G20 summit, the city police will have to stay alert since the heads of several countries will be here,” he said.
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