New Delhi, Nov. 14 (ANI): Defence Minister A.K. Antony on Monday said a discussion on the controversial Armed Forces Special Powers Act (AFSPA) remains inconclusive.
Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah had earlier on Sunday met Antony to press for the early removal of the Act from certain parts of the state.
To a poser on whether he was in favour of the rollback of the AFSPA or does the defence ministry still go with the Army's position, Antony said: "I have already told you many times. On our side, my opinion is (that it) being a very very sensitive issue; let us handle it in a very matured and cooled manner. So, I don't want to enter into public controversy or public debate on this very sensitive issue.
"But yesterday I had a very frank and very friendly meeting with the Chief Minister of Jammu and Kashmir (Omar Abdullah). The discussion was very fruitful, but it is inconclusive. We will continue the discussions and inside the government also we are continuing the discussions," he added.
Responding to a question on the security situation in Jammu and Kashmir, Antony said: "The security situation in Jammu and Kashmir is much better, but considering the attempt to infiltration across the border is continuing we have to be careful 24/7.
Omar Abdullah, who has been pitching for the removal of AFSPA from those areas in Jammu and Kashmir where normalcy has returned, has so far met Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh and Union Home Minister P. Chidambaram here to discuss the issue.
"If need be, these discussions will continue. Obviously, the effort is to narrow differences between what we would like to see happening and what the Army has so far publicly stated as comfortable to let happen. I believe that there is ample opportunity to address both the concerns that the Armed Forces have, while still allowing us to go ahead with the position that we have taken, which is keeping with what the Cabinet Committee on Security recommended way back almost a year ago," Abdullah told mediapersons after meeting Chidambaram.
The Army has voiced serious reservations over withdrawal of the AFSPA from certain parts, citing security concerns.
Talking about his meeting with Chidambaram, Abdullah said he had also discussed some of the ongoing works vis-?-vis the rehabilitation of migrants in Jammu and Kashmir apart from the issue of partial withdrawal of the Armed Forces Special Powers Act.
"The partial withdrawal of the Armed Forces Special Powers Act was one of a number of issues that I discussed with the Home Minister. We reviewed the overall security environment in the state, particularly in light of the fact that the officers have moved from Srinagar to Jammu for the winter. We also discussed some of the ongoing works vis-?-vis the rehabilitation of migrants etc.," said Abdullah.
Omar Abdullah is also scheduled to meet Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee tonight to discuss the issue of withdrawal of the Armed Forces Special Powers Act from some parts of Jammu and Kashmir.
"Obviously, the ongoing discussion about the partial withdrawal of the Armed Forces Special Powers Act was discussed. I am in the process of meeting all the members of the Cabinet Committee on Security. I met 'Raksha Mantri' (Defence Minister A.K. Antony) yesterday; I met Prime Minister earlier this morning. I just concluded a meeting with the Home Minister; I am scheduled to meet the Finance Minister later tonight. This will conclude my first round of discussions with the Cabinet Committee on Security," he said.
The Defence Ministry had earlier made it clear that the decision on removing AFSPA would be taken by the Unified Command.
The Jammu and Kashmir Government had earlier hinted to revoke the Armed Forces Special Powers Act from some areas in the state. (ANI)
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