Chief Minister Omar Abdullah Thursday stated that some people in New Delhi are ‘in love’ with Armed Forces Special Powers Act (AFSPA) in vogue in Valley that they would never find situation in Jammu and Kashmir conducive to revoke this draconian law.Omar was commenting over the reports wherein it was maintained that time is not proper that the AFSPA could be revoked from Jammu and Kashmir. The chief minister stated that there are some people who seem to be in love with such laws and that they would never find it appropriate to scrap the draconian laws from Jammu and Kashmir.“This is an ongoing discussion. Earlier, it used to be the UPA government and now it is the NDA. Some people have adopted a different approach towards these laws. Even if there is 100 % normalcy in Kashmir, they would still find some excuses for its continuation. I wonder what parameters they have for what they called an appropriate time for its revocation, asked Omar, according to KNS correspondent.
While talking to reporters on the sidelines of investiture ceremony at SKICC, Omar stated that whenever the state government asks for the revocation of the draconian laws from the State, New Delhi maintains the rhetoric, ‘let us see next year’. “I hope that their approach towards this grave issue will change and the process for the revocation of AFSPA will begin.”Omar remarked further that the toughest election fought in Jammu and Kashmir was that of 1996 and now it can be a politically tough election but not because of the situation. “At that time the militancy was at its peak. Times have changed. There is a vast difference in the present and past situation. Politically this election could be tough one for some people but I can say that politically and administratively the election of 1996 was a toughest one.”
Omar however refused to comment over the remarks made by the parliament member about Kashmir’s integrity with the Indian Union. “You should ask that question to that MP, not me.” Omar also confirmed that the government has received commission’s report ordered earlier for the Shopian killings. “The report has been sent to the Home Department and is being examined,” said Omar. (KNS)