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Friday, August 28, 2009

Omar Abdullah assures steps to revoke AFSPA

Srinagar, August 27
Asserting that a good beginning was made during the first eight months of the coalition government, Chief Minister Omar Abdullah has said his government will take all steps to revoke the Armed Forces Special Powers Act (AFSPA) from the state. He said a considerable improvement in the security scenario was observed as compared to the previous years.

The Chief Minister was replying to the discussion on grants to the four departments under his supervision in the state Assembly here today. Omar said the discussion was more on politics than the demands for grants to four departments that invited 529 cut motions.

Referring to incidents like Bomai and Shopian that rocked the valley, the Chief Minister said utmost care was taken to prevent any human rights violations. He assured the House and the people of the state that incidents like Shopian would not be repeated.

Omar said that the situation that prevailed during the recent months due to Shopian incident when stone pelting and bandhs became a common feature, certain preventive measures were necessary. “I do not want leaders like Geelani sahib to be kept under detention…I wish to release them gradually”, he said.

While Syed Bashir Ahmad, PDP member, walked out in protest against not being allowed to raise his issue, the Chief Minister criticised him for making much noise on issues like revocation of the AFSPA, human rights violations and political resolutions to the Kashmir issue.

Holding that the PDP’s claims on fear psychosis among the people were wrong, Omar said there was a decline in the percentage of the incidents of violence, killings at the hands of militants and cross firing and other incidents. Omar revealed that 517 civilians were killed during the first seven months of the Mufti government, while the number was at 53 during the first seven months of the present coalition government.

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