Srinagar: Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah Wednesday expressed happiness over what he called the central government's acknowledgement that the "controversial Armed Forces Special Powers Act (AFSPA) has to be lifted from Jammu and Kashmir".
Talking to media persons on the sidelines of a function in Srinagar, the chief minister said the state government was in touch with the centre regarding the revocation of the AFSPA.
Union Home Minister Sushilkumar Shinde said recently that all the stakeholders in Kashmir and the northeast would be taken on board before taking a final decision on the revocation of the act.
The AFSPA gives sweeping powers to the army and the paramilitary in troubled states for arrest, search and seize operations.
Omar Abdullah also confirmed that Prime Minister Manmohan Singh's scheduled visit to the state June 25 has not been cancelled as reported by a section of media, quoting Professor Saif-ud-Din Soz, chief of the state Congress.
"The prime minister's visit stands as on date and we are working out the modalities with the Prime Minister's Office," Omar Abdullah said.
The chief minister said UPA chairperson Sonia Gandhi was also likely to visit the state with the prime minister.
Comments
| Quick linksNews
National
International
Regional
Politics
Education & Career
Business
Science & Technology
Health
Views & Analysis
The Funny Side
© 2012 Awaz Multimedia & Publications. All rights reserved.
Asaduddin Owaisi blasts Maharashtra govt for police ban on Malegaon rallyAll India Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen (AIMIM) president Asaduddin Owaisi on Wednesday expressed surprise over the police ban on his scheduled rallies in »
Coporates to partner with govt for training, skill development of minoritiesUnion Minister of Minority Affairs K. Rahman Khan on Tuesday suggested to set up a Committee of the three Business Chambers and Ministry of Labour and Employment to give impetus to the efforts to promote Skill Development and Employment »
Against this backdrop, the protest staged in different parts of the state and outside, and the concerns expressed by a large number of people from all across the country and abroad were something which should have been taken note of by the state government immediately »
Speaking at a reception to celebrate the completion of two years of 'India Is' and the Global Photography Challenge and Video contests held under its auspices, Khurshid said the photographs and videos contributed by »