KL Report
Srinagar
Chief Minister, Omar Abdullah inspected the guard of honour and took salute and inspected some offices on the eve of re- opening of Darbar in Jammu.
Later, addressing a customary press conference Omar Abdullah said he wanted a phased withdrawal of a legislation that gives sweeping powers to armed forces but would not fix a deadline.
“There is no deadline for the removal of AFSPA (Armed Forces Special Powers Act) as of now, but it will go and the work is in progress on this count,” Abdullah said.
Omar Abdullah had injected a new urgency in the removal of the AFSPA in October last year when he proclaimed that it would be withdrawn from some parts of the state within “the next few days”.
Chief minister said ,”AFSPA will go. But when, I cannot tell, for no deadline has been set at this stage.”
Abdullah said that it is the Endeavour of the coalition government to take people of all the three regions of the state together for ensuring all round development. He said that all out efforts will be made to maintain the peace and tranquility which is prevailing in the State.
“There are some vested elements who do not want peace and normalcy to prevail in the State and are hell bent to derail it,” chief minister said.
However he sounded confidence that “with the support of the people, all the nefarious designs of the vested elements will be defeated”.
About the purported threat given by Jihad Council Supremo Syed Sallahudin to Panches and sarpanches , Omar Abdullah said that State Government is seized of the matter and all the steps and measures will be taken to provide required security to the Panches and sarpanches in the vulnerable areas so that they are able to carry out their activities without any problem.
Regarding inclusion of 73rd amendment of the Panchyati Raj Act in the State,Omar said that the State has its own Panchayati Raj Act .
However, he added that his Government will not hesitate to incorporate those provisions of the 73rd amendment in its Panchyati Raj Act which will be beneficial for the State.
