Ahead of a crucial meeting of the Centre on Kashmir, Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah met with Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee and Defence Minister A.K. Antony to seek their support on partial withdrawal of Armed Forces Special Powers Act (AFSPA) from the State.
Sources said Mr. Omar has met Mr. Mukherjee late last night at the latter’s residence for about half-an-hour during which the Chief Minister presented his case for withdrawal of AFSPA.
The Finance Minister is understood to have assured Mr. Omar of complete support of the Centre in dealing with the present situation.
The two leaders also discussed political and economic situation in the Valley besides other law and order related issues.
Before returning to the Kashmir Valley, the Chief Minister met with the Defence Minister and presented the case for partial withdrawal of the AFSPA.
While Mr. Omar stressed that AFSPA should be withdrawn from areas where it has not been put to use at all, Antony is believed to have told the Chief Minister about the reservation of the Army for any amendment or partial withdrawal of AFSPA from the State.
The meetings were part of the efforts of the Chief Minister for garnering support for amendment or partial withdrawal of AFSPA from at least four districts of the State ahead of crucial meeting of the Cabinet Committee on Security (CCS) slated for tomorrow.
Mr. Omar had met Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and urged him for amendments in the AFSPA or its partial withdrawal from the state.
He had also urged him to kick start a political dialogue with the separatists at the earliest.
