Hours after accusing “forces opposed to revocation of AFSPA” for the grenade attacks in the Valley on Tuesday, the National Conference retracted the statement following objections by the Army.
“The moment we have talked about the revocation of AFSPA, all this is happening. Why didn’t it happen till yesterday?” said party spokesman and CM Omar Abdullah's uncle Mustafa Kamaal in Shopian. “It could have been done by those voices who want continuation of AFSPA and want to reinforce those who are pressurising the Centre against its revocation. These include defence ministry and army.”
General officer commanding 15th Corp Gen. Atta Hassain told the media that the accusation was not even “worth a comment”.
The NC then retracted the statement in a hastily called press conference. Kamaal, who was accompanied by brother and union minister Farooq Abdullah, said he had been “misquoted”. “How can I accuse anybody when investigation is still on.”