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Soz refutes Omar stand on debate
Chairman of the Congress-National Conference coordination committee, Prof Saif-ud-din Soz, on Saturday virtually snubbed Chief Minister Omar Abdullah by claiming that no debate was pending on revoking the Armed Forces Special Powers Act selectively from the State.
Emerging from the two-hour long meeting of the coordination committee at the State guesthouse, Soz told the media, “The contentious issue was not even discussed during the meeting with the three senior leaders of the National Conference. I have always maintained that there should be no public debate on the sensitive issue.”
He added, “It is a temporary law and one day it will go. But at the same time, it is important to take the opinion of all stakeholders before any decision. For now, there is no debate pending on the issue.”
Ironically, just two days ago Omar Abdullah had claimed that the issue of AFSPA has not been kept on the back burner. “I believe there is a rightful case for the withdrawal of the AFSPA from the areas of the State where the Army is not operating”, Omar had told reporters on the occasion of completing three years in office on January 5.
After voicing its demand, the State Government is yet to complete its homework. The three-member team set up by the Chief Minister to interact with the officials of the Union Home and Defence Ministry to narrow down the differences between the State Government and the Army over partial withdrawal of the Act is yet to visit New Delhi to hold preliminary discussions on how to address the genuine concerns of the Armed Forces, especially in the light of constant threat of militants regrouping and attempting to infiltrate from across the border.
Meanwhile, briefing the media about their own agenda, Prof Soz said, “We had met here to discuss how to further strengthen the State Vigilance Commission, Human Rights Commission, Backward Classes Commission and Public Services Commission”.
The question of further strengthening of the Panchayat Raj Institutions in the State also came under discussion, Prof Soz told reporters.
Prof Soz ducked all other questions on the forthcoming reshuffle of the State Cabinet. “Reshuffle will happen when it has to happen and if required we would also share our feedback”.
The meeting was attended by Deputy Chief Minister Tara Chand, Finance Minister Abdul Rahim Rather, Minister for Law, Justice, Parliamentary Affairs, Rural Development and Panchayats Raj Ali Mohd Sagar, Former Deputy CM & senior Congress leader Mangat Ram Sharma and senior NC leader Ch Mohd Ramzan.
Chairman of the Congress-National Conference coordination committee, Prof Saif-ud-din Soz, on Saturday virtually snubbed Chief Minister Omar Abdullah by claiming that no debate was pending on revoking the Armed Forces Special Powers Act selectively from the State.
Emerging from the two-hour long meeting of the coordination committee at the State guesthouse, Soz told the media, “The contentious issue was not even discussed during the meeting with the three senior leaders of the National Conference. I have always maintained that there should be no public debate on the sensitive issue.”
He added, “It is a temporary law and one day it will go. But at the same time, it is important to take the opinion of all stakeholders before any decision. For now, there is no debate pending on the issue.”
Ironically, just two days ago Omar Abdullah had claimed that the issue of AFSPA has not been kept on the back burner. “I believe there is a rightful case for the withdrawal of the AFSPA from the areas of the State where the Army is not operating”, Omar had told reporters on the occasion of completing three years in office on January 5.
After voicing its demand, the State Government is yet to complete its homework. The three-member team set up by the Chief Minister to interact with the officials of the Union Home and Defence Ministry to narrow down the differences between the State Government and the Army over partial withdrawal of the Act is yet to visit New Delhi to hold preliminary discussions on how to address the genuine concerns of the Armed Forces, especially in the light of constant threat of militants regrouping and attempting to infiltrate from across the border.
Meanwhile, briefing the media about their own agenda, Prof Soz said, “We had met here to discuss how to further strengthen the State Vigilance Commission, Human Rights Commission, Backward Classes Commission and Public Services Commission”.
The question of further strengthening of the Panchayat Raj Institutions in the State also came under discussion, Prof Soz told reporters.
Prof Soz ducked all other questions on the forthcoming reshuffle of the State Cabinet. “Reshuffle will happen when it has to happen and if required we would also share our feedback”.
The meeting was attended by Deputy Chief Minister Tara Chand, Finance Minister Abdul Rahim Rather, Minister for Law, Justice, Parliamentary Affairs, Rural Development and Panchayats Raj Ali Mohd Sagar, Former Deputy CM & senior Congress leader Mangat Ram Sharma and senior NC leader Ch Mohd Ramzan.
