Nothing unusual in Omar move on AFSPA,says PC

In a democracy,consultations can be held any number of times, he said.

Finding nothing unusual,strange or new in Jammu and Kashmir Chief Ministers move to withdraw the Armed Forces Special Powers Act (AFSPA) from the state,Home Minister P Chidambaram on Monday said the process of reviewing the Act had been mandated by the decision of the Cabinet Committee on Security last year.

The CCS had,in September last year,taken eight decisions to bring back normalcy in the troubled state,one of which was to review the notification of the Disturbed Areas Act in the state,Chidambaram said. AFSPA can be imposed only in the areas notified under the Disturbed Areas Act.

Therefore,there is nothing unusual or new in what the (Jammu and Kashmir) Chief Minister is now saying, he told reporters. However,if the Congress party,which is an alliance partner in the state government,wants more consultations to take place on this issue,it was perfectly understandable,he said.

Story continues below this ad

In a democracy,consultations can be held any number of times, he said.

On the situation in Manipur,where a highway blockade has choked supplies of essential items,Chidambaram said he would appeal to the agitating groups to wait for the report of the District Reorganisation Commission that has been set up by the state government to go into the demands for creation of new districts.

He said the Centre and state government had been able to ensure that at least 1,100 trucks with supplies were allowed inside the state every week. As such,the supplies are okay but the problem is the very high prices of commodities, he said.

Chidambaram is slated to visit Manipur later this week.

Responding to a question on talks with ULFA,Home Secretary R K Singh said the group had placed some demands at the previous round of talks,some of which needed clarification.

Full term for Omar,says Cong

Story continues below this ad

Amid demands from a section of the state Congress for a review of the coalition arrangement in Jammu and Kashmir,the AICC on Monday clarified that the party was committed to a full term for Chief Minister Omar Abdullah.

We stand committed to our commitment to ensure continuance of the present coalition for a full term, AICC spokesman Abhishek Manu Singhvi told reporters,when asked about the speculation about rotational chief ministership in J&K.

The AICCs clarification comes in the backdrop of a war of words between the two coalition partners in the state over Omar Abdullahs stance on the removal of the Armed Forces Special Powers Act from certain areas of the state. PCC chief Saifuddin Soz had criticised the CM for creating confusion on the issue by announcing the AFSPAs withdrawal without consulting the Congress,the Unified Command,the Home Minister and the Defence Minister. Many state Congress leaders have been demanding a review of the existing arrangement to opt for rotational chief ministership.

Telangana decision expected after Eid

A movement towards a decision on demands for creating a separate Telangana state can be expected after Eid,Home Minister P Chidambaram said on Monday. The (Congress) general secretary in charge of the state and (Health) minister (Ghulam Nabi Azad) has told the groups in Andhra Pradesh to let the festival season Diwali and Eid pass. Movement towards a decision can be expected after Eid, he said.