Omar Abdullah defers AFSPA order to buy time

Amid opposition from its alliance partner Congress, the Omar Abdullah-led government on Friday deferred the decision on withdrawal of the controversial Armed Forces Special Powers Act (AFSPA) from certain parts of J&K.

A cabinet meeting was held here which was presided over by chief minister Omar Abdullah decided that the issue would be taken up in the next cabinet meeting in Jammu after the bi-annual Darbar shifts to the winter capital for next six months in November.

However, the government played down the matter saying the AFSPA withdrawal was not on the agenda of Friday’s meeting. “It (AFSPA) was not on the agenda of cabinet. The chief minister merely briefed the cabinet. There was no agenda for passing any resolution in this regard”, said Taj Mohidin, Congress leader and state minister for Irrigation and Public Health Engineering.

The issue was deferred against the backdrop of the open opposition from the Congress. J&K Congress president Saif-ud-din Soz on Thursday criticised Omar for not consulting them before announcing the withdrawal of AFSPA from the state.

“Omar would come up with complete agenda on this issue after discussions with army, defence ministry and union home ministry. It will be taken up for discussion in the next cabinet meeting and the decision will be taken accordingly”, said a top official privy to the cabinet meeting.