Situation not conducive for revoking AFSPA: Omar

Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah on Wednesday said the situation in the state had not reached a point where the AFSPA can be revoked.

Srinagar: Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah on Wednesday said the situation in the state had not reached a point where the Armed Forces Special Powers Act (AFSPA) can be revoked.

"I have no hesitation in saying that we wanted to reach a position where we could revoke the AFSPA from some areas of the state. But, unfortunately, we have not reached that point yet," Omar said in his Independence Day address at the Bakshi stadium here.

The Chief Minister, however, said the AFSPA revocation issue has not been closed as the dialogue on the matter was going on with the Ministry of Defence and the Army.

"The process (of revocation) has not stopped as the dialogue on the matter is ongoing," Omar said.

He expressed confidence that the controversial law will be revoked within the tenure of the National Conference-Congress coalition government, headed by him.

"I reiterate what I said on the floor of the Assembly that AFSPA will be revoked within the tenure of this government," he added.

Referring to his tenure so far, Omar said during the last three-and-half years, the state has seen "some good days and some bad days".

"However, due to the total cooperation of the people we are now witnessing one of the most peaceful times that the state has witnessed during the 22 years," he said.

PTI

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