AFSPA revocation decision in Nov: Omar Abdullah

Jammu, Oct 29: Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah, who had recently made a statement that the Armed Forces Special Powers Act (AFSPA) will be lifted from some areas of the state in next few days, on Oct 28 said that the final decision on the issue would be taken after a discussion by next month.

Meanwhile, Abdullah rejected reports by some TV channels that the revocation of AFSPA had been deferred. "It NEVER came as a proposal so how can it be deferred. It was always slated to be discussed formally in Jammu once offices open," he tweeted.

The debate on AFSPA emerged after Omar Abdullah's announcement in a Police function on Oct 21 in Srinagar, where he said AFSPA will be "lifted from some areas within days". With the defence ministry and the Army strongly opposing the move despite agreeing that the situation has improved, confrontation is building up on the lifting of AFSPA that was invoked in Kashmir Valley in 1990 and in the entire state (barring the two districts of Leh and Kargil) in August 2001.

State ruling National Conference is strongly supporting for AFSPA's removal, but alliance partner Congress has expressed unhappy at not being consulted on the issue. The state Congress chief Saifuddin Soz articulated the anger of his party, saying the Congress has not been consulted on the issue.

OneIndia News