Chief minister Omar Abdullah , who has been consistently demanding revocation of AFSPA, said he is not able to understand the rigidity of the Army in opposing this demand even from areas where the situation has improved considerably.
“I don’t know why it’s becoming so difficult to convince Army on this issue. Honestly, I am not able to understand why their position is so rigid on it,” Omar told HT in an interview.
Omar who had last October announced in Srinagar that AFSPA would he revoked from some districts before Durbar move-which takes place in November every year- had been since then facing stiff resistance from the Army.
The CM said he would not give up his efforts and would continue to pursue it.
“I think it’s an issue worth pursuing and we will continue to do so. I think our logic is sound,” said Omar.
Army had expressed strong reservations about revocation of Armed Forces Special Powers Act.
“The law is must for the national security. The army and state government have their own stands on the issue,” GoC-in-C Northern Command Lt Gen KT Parnaik had said in January.
{{/usCountry}}“The law is must for the national security. The army and state government have their own stands on the issue,” GoC-in-C Northern Command Lt Gen KT Parnaik had said in January.
{{/usCountry}}In the backdrop of this hardened stand of Army on this issue, Omar had admitted backtracking on backtracking about demand for partial revocation of AFSPA.
Making a statement in the Assembly on Mar 29 Omar had said: “I admit to backtracking…. All security agencies except Army didn’t agree to our demand and held the view that one good summer doesn’t translate to the fact that militancy had gone. But We can’t wait endlessly.”
Omar is not facing resistance from Army alone even his coalition partner Congress is also not fully supportive of him on this issue. Pradesh Congress Committee president Saif-ud-din Soz had said that AFSPA is not a permanent Act but talks should be held with all stakes holders on arriving at a consensus,
The CM had make the recase for partial revocation of AFSPA from where Army had not carried counter insurgency operation for long time, at a recent conference of chief minister’s on internal security
“Now that there is a distinct change in the security environment in the State, there is a good case for reviewing the continuation of AFSPA from areas and districts which are not affected by the insurgent and terrorist activities,” had said Omar.