Omar meets PM, HM over AFSPA

Amid a raging controversy over the issue, Omar on Monday met Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and Union Home Minister P Chidambaram to push his case for partial revocation of the Act from selected areas in the state.

He maintained that he was not playing politics on national security and his efforts were “to narrow down the differences.”

Sources told Deccan Herald that the Central government has not given any commitment on the issue.  The Army has been opposing the withdrawal move tooth and nail, saying it would only help the insurgents within and those sitting on the fence across the borders.
 
Omar had an interaction  with Defence Minister A K Anthony and Army chief  Gen. V K Singh  last week.  Antony has said his meeting with Omar  was “inconclusive” and described AFSPA as a “very sensitive subject.”

Omar is keen to see partial revocation of  AFSPA from Srinagar and Budgam districts in Kashmmi valley  and Jammu city and Sambha in Jammu region. According to the chief minister, tourist inflow has increased manifold with around 13 lakh  people visiting the state till October, this year.