No decision on AFSPA yet, indicates PM
November 12th, 2011 - 10:46 pm ICT by IANS
On Board Air India One , Nov 12 (IANS) Prime Minister Manmohan Singh Saturday indicated that the government has not taken any decision on lifting the Armed Forces Special Powers Act (AFSPA) from parts of Jammu and Kashmir, saying that the review process was still on.
“The change in the security situation and the political process will have to be objectively reviewed,” the prime minister said, to queries if the contentious legislation will be withdrawn from parts of Jammu and Kashmir as demanded by Chief Minister Omar Abdullah.
“I don’t think the process has been completed,” said Manmohan Singh, indicating the government is yet to make up its mind.
The prime minister was speaking to journalists on board his special aircraft while returning home from the South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC) summit in the Maldives.
Defence Minister A.K. Antony said Friday that the final call on revoking the law from parts of Jammu and Kashmir rests with the Unified Command, headed by Abdullah, whose call for partial withdrawal of the act has led to a raging debate.
“The CCS (Cabinet Committee on Security) last year decided to leave it to the Unified Command to take a decision on partial withdrawal of the Armed Forces Special Powers Act in Jammu and Kashmir,” Antony told reporters in New Delhie on the sidelines of an event.
He was responding to a question on Abdullah’s remarks that his government had the authority to withdraw the AFSPA, which empowers security forces with authority to use force on or arrest suspects, from parts of the state.
- Kashmir's Unified Command can decide on AFSPA: Antony - Nov 11, 2011
- Omar briefs governor on AFSPA meetings - Nov 16, 2011
- Omar meets Antony on AFSPA ahead of state cabinet meet - Nov 13, 2011
- Antony reviews security situation - Nov 15, 2011
- PM, ministers to meet on Kashmir Monday evening - Sep 13, 2010
- Omar for denotifying disturbed areas in Kashmir - Dec 02, 2011
- Need to remove AFSPA from parts of Kashmir: Omar - Nov 09, 2011
- AFSPA: Omar meets PM, Chidambaram; no time limit, says Antony - Nov 15, 2011
- Farooq backs 'boss' Omar on AFSPA - Nov 17, 2011
- Kashmir stone-pelters to be freed, unified command to take call on AFSPA (Lead) - Sep 25, 2010
- Indian Army chief meets Omar Adbullah on AFSPA - Nov 15, 2011
- Cabinet discusses AFSPA, reviews situation in Kashmir - Oct 27, 2011
- CCS fails to take decision on Kashmir situation, calls for all party meet - Sep 13, 2010
- Congress core group discusses Telangana, AFSPA - Nov 14, 2011
- Omar speaks to Chidambaram about AFSPA removal - Nov 09, 2011
Tags: afspa, air india, antony, cabinet committee, chief minister, defence minister, final call, jammu and kashmir, kashmir, manmohan, manmohan singh, partial withdrawal, prime minister manmohan, prime minister manmohan singh, returning home, security forces, security situation, sidelines, south asian association, south asian association for regional cooperation