New Delhi:
As the controversy over the removal of the Armed Forces Special Powers Act (AFSPA) from the certain areas in the Kashmir valley rages on, Chief Minister Omar Abdullah met Defence Minister AK Antony today.
The meeting comes a day after the minister said that the decision on the removal of AFSPA would be taken by the Unified Command in Kashmir and not by the Chief Minister.
Mr Abdullah has been at the centre of a raging controversy ever since he said that the Act should be removed from certain areas in the Valley. Mr Abdullah also said that he was fully authorised to revoke the act from the areas he wished.
"I do have the authority. The elected state government of any state has got the authority. In this case, the authority rests with the Governor, who would act on the basis of recommendation from the state government. That was further cemented by what the Cabinet Committee on Security has said, and also what the Union Home Minister has said even in recent media interviews. So, I don't think it is anybody's case, least of all the Army's, that the state government doesn't have the authority," Mr Abdullah had said.
Army sources, however, pointed out that the Unified Command is basically a consultative body where all security matters are discussed but without consensus or at least a general agreement between all stakeholders, no decision can be implemented. This was the stand endorsed by Mr Antony on Friday.
The Army's objections to the proposed revocation stems purely from a long-term perspective although everyone agrees that 2011 has been an exceptionally peaceful summer.
"AFSPA is an enabling act to counter terrorists operations. It has also to be seen in context of the proxy war. Pakistan continues to have its proxy infrastructure. Until we remove the terrorists fully, it's not time to partially revoke the AFSPA" said Lt. General KT Parnaik, Commander of the Northern Army.
The Army also says people in rural areas do not bother much about the politics of the Act. All that they want is peace.