After UP, Punjab elections,
Revocation of AFSPA, interlocutors report to come in limelight again
Srinagar, Mar 11 (VOS): After the completion of assembly elections in five states of India, revocation of Armed Forces Special Powers Act (AFSPA) and report of Kashmir interlocutors is expected to become focal point at the center again, sources told VOS.
They said the high level committee formed by Chief Minister, Omar Abdullah, to look into the partial revocation of the AFSPA is expected to visit New Delhi in coming days.
“The committee would meet officials of Defence Ministry and Home Ministry on the AFSPA issue,” sources added.
A senior official told VOS that state government is trying its level best to include representatives from the Army in the committee. Omar had last year said that it was hi endeavour to remove AFSPA from those areas where there is no need of Army to work.
Meanwhile, sources said, report of three interlocutors on Jammu and Kashmir submitted to Union Home Minister P Chidambaram last year will come to focus again after the completion of elections in five states.
The report laying down a roadmap for the government to address all issues pertaining to the state, is gathering dust in Home Ministry since it was submitted in October last year.
The report had been submitted within the time-frame of one year given by the government to the interlocutors group that was formed after an all-party meeting held in September 2010.
Union Home Minister P Chidambaram had on January 31 said that the government will make public the report of interlocutors on Jammu and Kashmir after the Cabinet Committee on Security (CCS) is fully briefed about it.
Chidambaram had said the CCS had a short meeting after the report was submitted, but the committee desired “a fuller meeting.”
“The moment CCS is briefed, the report will be made public,” Chidambaram had said answering queries.