AFSPA: Omar meets Sonia,HM ahead of CCS meeting

Omar has been pressing the Centre to withdraw the AFSPA from some areas of the state and announce some political initiatives. The Chief Minister said he was working with the Centre on confidence-building measures to restore normalcy in the Valley.

But genuine questions would arise on how the process could be carried forward if violence goes on,he had said yesterday adding,it is a “chicken and egg situation – what comes first”.

Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and Congress President Sonia Gandhi had a threadbare discussion with Cabinet colleagues and senior party leaders in the Congress Core Group on Friday on the issue after which indications had emerged that government could announce some initiatives to end the three-month-long cycle of violence in the Valley.

However,a sudden flare-up of violence in Srinagar on the day of Eid appeared to have put the Government in a spot. The opposition BJP has warned that any dilution to Armed Forces Special Powers Act (AFSPA) would only allow the separatists to call the shots.

The Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister also met Home Minister P Chidambaram and discussed with him the issue of partial withdrawal of controversial AFSPA from the state.

Omar also discussed with Chidambaram the prevailing law and order situation in the Kashmir valley,where fresh violence has erupted since yesterday.

The meeting assumes significance ahead of the meeting of the Cabinet Committee on Security which is expected to consider a slew of measures to deal with the situation in Kashmir.