Remove Omar Abdullah, don't dilute AFSPA: BJP

On the eve of the crucial meeting of the cabinet committee on Security on Kashmir, BJP today demanded the removal of chief minister Omar Abdullah, saying his government has "completely collapsed" and warned that any dilution of AFSPA would only allow the separatists and miscreants to call the shots.

Top BJP leaders, who met at LK Advani's residence here, said, "it is time he (Abdullah)is replaced by a more acceptable person." An unpopular chief minister suffers a complete alienation from his people, it said.

The party came out with a one page statement accusing the Centre of being "completely devoid of any vision" on how to deal with the situation. 

The meeting attended by Advani, Sushma Swaraj, Arun Jaitley, SS Ahluwalia and Ravishankar Prasad was held a day before the CCS meet which is expected to consider a slew of measures to address the volatile Kashmir situation.

The CCS is likely to discuss steps like partial withdrawal of Armed Forces Special Powers Act for breaking the impasse in Jammu and Kashmir. 

In its statement, the BJP said that the last three months have seen a "sudden worsening" of the situation in the Valley.

The party cautioned the Centre against any dilution of AFSPA saying this is not the time for appeasement of separatists or vote bank politics.

"This is a time for action. The government should not under any circumstances consider lifting the AFSPA from any disturbed district of the state. The security environment must be strengthened, the miscreants must feel scared and not allowed to call the shots," it said.