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Cabinet discusses AFSPA, reviews situation in
Kashmir
Friday October 28, 2011 11:59:01 AM,
IANS
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New Delhi:
Against the backdrop of a raging debate over a proposal to
withdraw the contentious Armed Forces Special Powers Act (AFSPA)
from certain areas in Jammu and Kashmir, the Cabinet Committee on
Security met at Prime Minister Manmohan Singh's residence here
Thursday.
The over 90-minute-long meeting, chaired by Manmohan Singh, was
attended by Defence Minister A.K. Antony, Finance Minister Pranab
Mukherjee and Home Minister P. Chidambaram.
External Affairs Minister S.M. Krishna is away to Australia to
attend a meeting of foreign ministers of the 54-nation
Commonwealth.
The meeting discussed the surprise announcement by Abdullah on a
proposal to revoke AFPSA in some areas which is being opposed by
the Army as well as the ruling Congress party, said well-placed
sources. There was, however, no official word on the outcome of
the meeting.
Congress leader Saif-ud-din Soz has slammed Abdullah for what he
called a unilateral announcement and said all stakeholders,
including the Army, should have been consulted before such an
important step.
The Army has been backing the continuation of the AFSPA on the
grounds that tough laws are needed to deal with militancy in the
state.
However, Army chief General V.K. Singh treaded cautiously when
asked for his comments. "It is within the purview of the home
ministry and they know what our input is," he told reporters.
The cabinet meeting on security also discussed the security
situation in Jammu and Kashmir in the wake of multiple grenade
attacks earlier this week by suspected militants in parts of Jammu
and Kashmir.
Earlier in the day, Home Minister P. Chidambaram had reviewed the
security situation in the state with senior officials. The meeting
was attended by Home Secretary R.K. Singh and other senior
officials of the ministry.
The meeting came as a shutdown called by separatists -- to protest
the landing of Indian troops in Jammu and Kashmir on this day in
1947 to fight Pakistan-backed tribal invaders -- evoked a partial
response in Kashmir Valley Thursday.
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