AFSPA withdrawal row : Omar Abdullah meets Chidambaram, Sonia ahead of Cabinet meet

New Delhi, Sep 13 (ANI): Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah met Union Home Minister P Chidambaram and Congress President Sonia Gandhi here on Monday ahead of a crucial Cabinet Committee on Security (CCS) meeting to discuss the withdrawal of the Armed Forces Special Powers Act (AFSPA) from the Kashmir Valley.

It has been reported that during his 40-minute meeting with Chidambaram, Omar urged for the for the withdrawal of AFPSA from urban areas and requested more amendments to the act to make it more humane.

During his meeting with Sonia Gandhi, Omar briefed her about the developments in the Valley.

Today's meeting would be the third Cabinet meeting on the Kashmir situation since the stone-pelting violence erupted in the Valley on June 11.

The CCS comprises of Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, Home Minister P. Chidambaram, Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee and External Affairs Minister S.M. Krishna.

Meanwhile, Defence Minister A.K. Antony has denied reports of differences of opinion in the cabinet on tackling violence in the Valley.

"There may be different views on a topic. But, once a decision is arrived at, then there would be no difference of opinion. I am not interested in starting a debate on this," he said.

"The frequent clashes in Kashmir are a cause of concern to all," he added.

Omar Abdullah had earlier said the Kashmir problem requires a unique solution, as the accession of the State with India was in different and unique circumstances than that of other States of the country.

"We are trying that all issues be resolved through dialogue. Centre has also brought this on record-both in the Parliament and outside it that dialogue should be initiated in Jammu and Kashmir. Kashmir requires a unique solution as the accession of Jammu and Kashmir with rest of the country was in extremely unique circumstances," said Abdullah.

When asked about his recent statement on revocation of AFSPA, Abdullah said: "I have not said any such thing. I have said we are thinking on it and we are discussing the issue with Centre. We have got two options with us."

"First is that the harsh side of AFSPA be subdued. Second option with us is that where there is hardly any impact of militancy and where the role of Army is not required from those areas AFSPA can be removed in a phased manner. For which we are working for identifying some districts of Jammu and Kashmir," he added.

The cycle of violence has led to frequent shutdowns and curfew in the Valley for the past three months.

Curfew was clamped in more areas of the Kashmir Valley on Monday in view of incidents of violence in several parts and a protest march called by the separatists in Srinagar. (ANI)