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| Omar 'firm' on AFSPA revocation, big 'NO' to 73rd amendment | | Says J&K can amend its own law, no discord between NC, Congress | | SAROJ RAZDAN
Jammu, Nov 5: In what could be seen as his re assertion on the issue of adoption of 73rd constitution post deferment of BDC polls under Congress pressure, Chief Minister Omar Abdullah today said big no in a loud manner . contending J&K had its own constitution and is capable of amending its own laws to empower Panchayats in the state. Omar maintained his stand on AFSPA revocation was firm and some 'fruitful' discussions have taken place recently in concerned quarters. The Chief Minister played down the threats issued by Hizb chief Syed Salah-u-Din to Panches and Sarpanches saying his stand on the issue had been dithering for the last two year. He said his government was taking best possible measures to ensure their protection but ruled out security cover to each and very member.
"73rd amendment will not be brought in J&K ……..why should we do it …we cannot do it when we have our own constitution and can amend our own laws ……my government has been very clear on this issue and this stand has been conveyed to Congress High Command as well as J&KPCC chief through letters…", Chief Minister said on a firm note while speaking to media after reopening of Durbaar in Jammu today. We have every intention of incorporating amendments but in our own Panchayati Raj Act, he maintained .
The Chief Minister denied that he is under pressure from Congress over adoption of constitutional amendment . "There is no discord between NC and Congress over the issue nor has been any pressure at any point of time……it is the collective decision of coalition government that we will amend our own Act", he said.
Reiterating there was no change in his stand on revocation of AFSPA in the state, the Chief Minister contended he had not set any deadline for it. "I do not set any deadline……there is ongoing debate over the issue and there has been forward movement as the discussions are going on…", he said. Replying to a query his said the issue of AFSAP revocation and protection to sarpanches and panches are two different issues and the two cannot be linked. " The services of Security forces are not utilized for the protection purpose …..they are here for anti insurgency operations…", he said adding in the same breath that it was practically impossible to provide security to each and every member of Panchayats.
" My government never committed that it will provide security to each and every member…. moreover there is no such need in the changed security environment , particularly in Jammu where there is presence of only 30-40 militants in just three districts…." He said, maintain that in Kashmir this is being determined on the basis of threat perception assessment by the security agencies and steps are being taken accordingly. The CM claimed government is capable of ensuring full sense of security and steps were being taken the details of which could not be divulged.
As for what Syed Sallah-ud-Din has said in a recent interview regarding Panchayati Raj Institutes in the state the Chief Minister regretted what he said that Salah-u-Din's own tune has changed on issuing threats to panches and sarpanches.
"After the first few phases of panchaya polls, it was Sallah-u-Din who said that there will be no threats made to the panches and sarpanches and elections will go ahead smoothly…..I do not understand why has he suddenly jumped into this bandwagon of issuing threats…..". the Chief Minister questioned, downplaying the remarks of the chief of militant organization .
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