Jammu: The BJP on Tuesday said the militant attack on a Jammu and Kashmir minister in Srinagar proved that the prevailing situation in the state does not allow withdrawal of Armed Forces Special Powers Act. "The present situation in Jammu and Kashmir does not allow withdrawal of AFSPA. The recent militant attack on cabinet minister Ali Mohmmad Sagar in Srinagar is the latest incidence which proves that both AFSPA and...
09:01 PM, Dec 13, 2011
Srinagar: Hurriyat hawk Syed Ali Shah Geelani on Sunday said debates revolving around controversial laws like AFSPA were offshoots of an unresolved Kashmir problem. "Black laws are branches of a tree. When the spring arrives, these will sprout again. The need is to address the root cause (of the problem)," he told a seminar in Srinagar. The discussions centring around laws like AFSPA and PSA were derivatives of a lingering...
07:59 PM, Dec 11, 2011
Jammu: Union Minister Farooq Abdullah on Saturday alleged opposition PDP in Jammu and Kashmir was bent upon dividing people in the name of religion and region. "We criticise PDP for its double-speak and divisive politics. This party is bent upon dividing people in the name of religion and region in Jammu and Kashmir," Union Minister for New and Renewable Energy and president of National Conference Farooq Abdullah said while addressing...
03:19 AM, Dec 11, 2011
Jammu: Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah on Monday night said his view on phased withdrawal of AFSPA from parts of the state is based on logic and not emotion. "I do not want to get into extended public debate on this (revocation of AFSPA issue). My point of view is based on logic, not emotions", Omar told reporters while inaugurating of Data Recovery Center at Gladni Power Station...
10:19 PM, Dec 05, 2011
New Delhi: Commending the Army for maintaining security in Jammu and Kashmir, main opposition People's Democratic Party chief Mehbooba Mufti on Saturday counselled caution about the move by Omar Abdullah government to revoke Armed Forces Special Powers Act from parts of the state. Talking to reporters after attending a seminar at the Hindustan Times Summit in New Delhi, Mehbooba said Omar's move seeking revocation of the controversial law from some...
09:12 PM, Dec 03, 2011
New Delhi: National Conference chief Farooq Abdullah has called for a controlled democracy in the country. Speaking at Hindustan Times Leadership Summit in New Delhi, he said, "India should have controlled democracy like Malaysia to get quicker results." This came a day after former Malaysian prime minister Mahathir Mohammad said that India needed a much stronger Central Government and less powerful federal structure to make rapid economic progress. "India would...
04:25 PM, Dec 03, 2011
Jammu: The BJP in Jammu and Kashmir on Wednesday demanded the resignation of Union Minister Farooq Abdullah for his remarks about the Army while pitching for the removal of AFSPA in the state. "BJP questions the propriety of Abdullah as a Union Minister for passing derogatory remarks about Army. We have also asked the UPA government, including the Defence and Home Ministers, to clarify whether what he said in a...
06:28 PM, Nov 30, 2011
HYDERABAD: With the Armed Forces Special Protection Act (AFSPA) being a bone of contention between civil rights groups and the governments, 'Saving Sharmila' campaign might not be an easy objective. But, a five-member team of civil society representatives, who were in the city on Monday, have named their campaign in honour of the iron lady of Manipur, Irom Sharmila. "We want to reach out to people and not just make...
09:37 AM, Nov 29, 2011
Srinagar: By proposing to incorporate the essence of AFSPA into the local Ranbir Penal Code (RPC), Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah was leading the state towards "virtual martial law", PDP President Mehbooba Mufti alleged on Sunday. "The AFSPA has to go sooner or later but Omar Abdullah's diabolical suggestion to incorporate its essence into the local Ranbir Penal Code amounts to introducing a virtual martial law in the...
07:51 PM, Nov 27, 2011
New Delhi: Union Minister and President of the National Conference Farooq Abdullah has come out strongly in support of his son and Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah's demand to partially lift the Armed Forces Special Powers Act (AFSPA) from certain areas. Farooq, in conversation with Karan Thapar on Devil's Advocate, also criticised the armed forces and intelligence agencies for failing to check insurgency in he state. Karan Thapar:...
06:24 PM, Nov 27, 2011
Speaking to Karan Thapar on Devil's Advocate Farooq Abdullah said every successful infiltration from across the border is a collective failure of the system. ...
02:59 PM, Nov 27, 2011
New Delhi: Union Minister and President of the ruling National Conference in Jammu and Kashmir Farooq Abdullah has come out strongly in support of his son and Chief Minister Omar Abdullah's demand to partially lift the Armed Forces Special Powers Act (AFSPA) from certain areas. Speaking to Karan Thapar, he also criticised the armed forces and intelligence agencies for failing to check insurgency in he state. Farooq Abdullah: The Chief...
07:22 AM, Nov 27, 2011
Jammu: In a bid to allay concerns on the issue of revocation of AFSPA, Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah has said his government is ready to give legal protection to the Army by amending the Ranbir Penal Code and making it on par with the CrPC. He also stated that the final decision on the revocation of the Armed Forces Special Powers Act (AFSPA) vests with the Governor....
12:20 PM, Nov 24, 2011
New Delhi: The debate on who will have the final word on lifting the controversial AFSPA from some areas of Jammu and Kashmir intensified with the Union Law Ministry saying the Governor can overrule the recommendation of the state government. Reversing its stand, the Law Ministry has informed the Union Government that Governor NN Vohra enjoys the power to overrule any decision of the Omar Abdullah government for revoking the...
07:21 PM, Nov 23, 2011
Anantnag: Raising the pitch from opposition PDP's bastion for phased revocation of AFSPA, Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah on Monday said he was on the "right track" and that his efforts will continue. Omar said his government was trying to address the concerns of the Army, which has voiced serious reservations on lifting of AFSPA, without engaging in public debate. He also made it clear that the state...
04:54 PM, Nov 21, 2011
Omar Abdullah said the partial removal of the Act is possible with Army's concerns being addressed as well. ...
02:19 PM, Nov 19, 2011
Jammu: The BJP on Wednesday alleged the debate sparked by Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah over withdrawal of Armed Forces Special Powers Act (AFSPA) from parts of the state is aimed at "weakening" the country. "The debate initiated by the CM for the past one month is aimed at weakening the country", BJP General Secretary Arun Jaitley said. He said the Army and the paramilitary force personnel are...
12:46 AM, Nov 17, 2011
Jammu: PDP on Tuesday accused Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah of using the AFSPA issue to divert people's attention from the mysterious death of a National Conference leader. "AFSPA issue is being used to divert attention of people from the custodial death of the NC worker," PDP Chief Mehbooba Mufti told reporters in Jammu on Tuesday. She said Omar should have taken the decision to revoke AFSPA with...
08:06 PM, Nov 15, 2011
New Delhi: Wrapping up his "productive" visit to the national capital, Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah had a meeting with Army chief General V K Singh on Tuesday morning during which the two discussed AFSPA and security-related issues. The breakfast meeting with Gen Singh was the last among a series of interactions the Chief Minister had with central leaders including Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and Congress president Sonia...
11:49 AM, Nov 15, 2011
New Delhi: Terming the issue of withdrawal of Armed Forces Special Powers Act (AFSPA) as very sensitive, Defence Minister AK Antony on Monday said the matter has to be handled in a cool and mature manner. Antony said that no deadlines can be set for lifting AFPSA from Jammu and Kashmir. "No deadlines can be set for lifting AFSPA. Security situation remains a serious issue in Jammu and kashmir and...
04:27 PM, Nov 14, 2011
