NEW DELHI : As the talks get boosted over the removal of AFSPA in some parts of Jammu and Kashmir, the Army Chief General V K Singh has mentioned that the Army has provided their inputs on the issue but has refused to detail on the details.
"This (Armed Forces Special Powers Act) is within the purview of the Ministry of Home Affairs. They are debating this and we have given our inputs. I would not like to say anything more," he told reporters on the sidelines of Infantry Day celebrations here.
Jammu and Kashmir chief minister Omar Abdullah had yesterday said that the withdrawal of the Act from some districts of the state such as Srinagar, Badgam, Samba and Jammu was in no way an effort to undermine the role of the Army.
"The army is essentially playing a major role in anti-militancy operations in Jammu and Kashmir", he had said.
"Even the process of removal of AFSPA from certain areas of Jammu and Kashmir is being done in close consultation with the Army and other central paramilitary forces and their inputs and security concerns will be evaluated and considered while removing the footprint of AFSPA from certain parts of the state," he had said.
The chief minister had said that an attempt is being made to create an impression that the state government and the Army are working on divergent paths, which is not correct.
Omar had said that it is nobody's case to demonize the Army as the it has proved time and again that it is a disciplined force which is governed by certain standard operating procedures.
