By IANS,
New Delhi : The final call on revoking the Armed Forces Special Powers Act (AFSPA) from parts of Jammu and Kashmir rests with the Unified Command, Defence Minister A.K. Antony said Friday.
The Unified Command is headed by Chief Minister Omar Abdullah, whose call for partial withdrawal of the act has led to a raging debate.
“The CCS (Cabinet Committee on Security) last year decided to leave it to the Unified Command to take a decision on partial withdrawal of the Armed Forces Special Powers Act in Jammu and Kashmir,” Antony told reporters here on the sidelines of an event.
He was responding to a question on Omar Abdullah’s remarks that his government had the authority to withdraw the AFSPA from parts of the state.
Calling the AFSPA “a sensitive issue”, Antony said he was “against any public debate” on the matter.
He said the defence ministry has already expressed its views on the issue of AFSPA withdrawal to the government.