Cong supports Omar`s demand for partial withdrawal of AFSPA

Supporting the demand of Omar Abdullah for partial withdrawal of AFSPA, state unit of Congress said the Act must go from areas where it is not needed.

Srinagar: Supporting the demand of Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah for partial withdrawal of AFSPA, the state unit of Congress on Sunday said the Act was need based and must go from areas where it is not needed.

"Armed Forces Special Powers Act (AFSPA) is a temporary law and was enacted when it was needed. Now there is no need of the law in certain areas and it should be removed from those areas," Pradesh Congress Committee (JKPCC) president Saif-ud-din Soz told reporters here. Soz, however, said the issue should not be politicised and all stake holders should be taken on board to create a consensus. "The Chief Minister is politicising the issue. Instead of making it a public debate, he (Omar) should raise the issue in Unified Headquarters meeting and take stake holders like the Army and the Paramilitary on board," he said. Soz expressed his willingness to play a role of a mediator between the Centre and the Separatists to start a fresh dialogue. "Being a Kashmiri, I feel it is important to play the role of middleman to resolve this issue once and for all. Separatists should come forward for a fresh dialogue," he added. PTI