Govt buying time on Kashmir

Cabinet may not meet today. UPA treading cautiously on AFSPA

Cabinet may not meet today. UPA treading cautiously on AFSPA

With the Union government yet to finalise the much-touted Kashmir Peace Package, chances are that the crucial Cabinet Committee on Security (CCS) meeting on the strife-torn state may not take place on Monday.

Till late Sunday evening, there was no official confirmation in this regard. The meeting, which was to be held on Saturday, was postponed till Monday. "There is no announcement of the CCS meet so far. But if it is held, it will be in the late evening only," said an official in the Prime Minister's Office on Sunday. However, Defence Minister AK Antony, who was in Thiruvananthapuram on Sunday, affirmed that the CCS will meet on Monday.

Sources said that the government was buying time to "arrive at a consensus on the package".

"The Congress high command is concerned that if any concession on Armed Forces Special Powers Act is given then the Opposition parties, including the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) might use it against the government. The UPA is yet to come up with its Kashmir Peace Package," said a senior government official.

It is notable that the meeting of the Congress Committee on Kashmir last Thursday ended without a consensus on repealing the Armed Forces Special Powers Act (AFSPA) in Jammu and Kashmir. The meeting discussed chief minister Omar Abdullah's demand of revocation or amendment in the AFSPA but serious differences erupted between Defence Minister AK Antony and Home Minister P Chidambaram over the issue.

Antony highlighted the security establishment's fears and opposed any decision to even partially withdraw the AFSPA while Chidambaram emphasised the need for some political action to break the impasse in the Valley.

Not only Antony, but other senior Congress leaders including Prithviraj Chavan and Gulam Nabi Azad had also opposed any concessions in AFSPA as these could be seen as kneeling down before the separatist forces who have allegedly taken the Valley hostage.

Omar Abdullah, in a desperate move to alienate separatists, has been demanding withdrawal of the AFSPA from the Srinagar and Badgam in Kashmir and and Ramban in Jammu region.

Though the removal of the AFSPA from the state seems to be in limbo, after the CCS meet the Centre might repeat its intention to begin a dialogue with 'all shades of opinion in Jammu and Kashmir'. Sources also said, sending an all-party parliamentary delegation to the violence-hit state might be another proposal to come up at the CCS meeting for discussion.

BJP on Kashmir
On Sunday evening, top BJP leaders met at LK Advani's residence and demanded the removal of Chief Minister Omar Abdullah, saying his government has "completely collapsed" and warned that any dilution of AFSPA would only allow the separatists and miscreants to call the shots.

"It is time he (Abdullah) is replaced by a more acceptable person. An unpopular Chief Minister suffers a complete alienation from his people," the statement said. The party cautioned the Centre against any dilution of AFSPA saying this is not the time for appeasement of separatists or vote bank politics. "This is a time for action. The government should not under any circumstances consider lifting the AFSPA from any disturbed district of the state. The security environment must be strengthened, the miscreants must feel scared and not allowed to call the shots," it said.

Will father replace son?
According to sources, chief minister Omar Abdullah's father Farooq Abdullah may be asked to take over the reins in Jammu and Kashmir. They claimed Omar has lost support in his own party (National Conference) too.

Package picks
1. Lifting AFSPA from Srinagar and Badgam districts in Kashmir and and Ramban in the Jammu region. All the districts of the state are currently under the Act.
2. Special compensation for the families of the civilians killed in firing by security forces during the past three months.
3. Jobs and rehabilitation for surrendered militants.
4. An employment package for the educated unemployed.
5. Release of arrested youth and withdrawal of several cases related to stone-pelting.

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