Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah
Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah has said he was disappointed, not surprised, over Defence Minister Arun Jaitley's decision to not revoke the Armed Forces Special Powers Act (AFSPA) in the state.
On Tuesday, Mr Jaitley, had said the controversial act will not be revoked in the state despite repeated demands by the Omar Abdullah government. The Centre and the Army were on the same page on the issue, he had told NDTV.
Yesterday, in an interview to NDTV, Mr Abdullah said former Home Minister P Chidambaram was his strongest supporter in the UPA government on the revocation of AFSPA. "Mr Chidambaram still regrets that he didn't succeeded in revoking AFSPA from J&K," Mr Abdullah said.
The Chief Minister had promised people that the process of revocation of AFSPA will start before the term of his government ends. The Election Commission is expected to announce dates of state assembly polls in a few days.
Mr Abdullah's party, the National Conference, has vehemently opposed the timing of elections, citing the devastation caused by recent floods in large parts of Kashmir.
Mr Abdullah also commented on PM Modi's visit to the state on the occasion of Diwali.
"I have been one of biggest critics of Mr Modi, both before and after elections, but this is a gesture I appreciate," he said. "I do hope that something meaningful will come out of it."
The Chief Minister added that he was disappointed over the strike call by Kashmiri separatists who have protested against PM Modi's visit.
"We should ensure that the Hartal call should fail," he said. "It will be a great act of hypocrisy if the same shopkeepers shut shop against the Prime Minister's arrival and expect rehabilitation from him, which we will find difficult to explain."