Chidambaram said, Centre likely to consider amendments to AFSPA

Chidambaram said, Centre likely to consider amendments to AFSPA

Home minister, Chidambaram said his position on controversial AFSPA in Jammu and Kashmir has not changed and the Centre is considering three amendments proposed by his ministry to the Act.

The home ministry has proposed three amendments to the Armed Forces Special Powers Act and the Cabinet Committee on Security (CCS) is considering them, Chidambaram said.

“There is no change in the position. MHA’s position is that the Act must be amended and we have proposed three amendments to the Act which is under consideration of the CCS,” he said.

There is a growing clamour for the Act, which gives special powers to Army, to be amended or withdrawn and Jammu and Kashmir chief minister Omar Abdullah is leading the campaign for its revocation.

“Position of several people is that the Act must be repealed,” the home minister said.

Chidambaram also said that the state government wants some areas in the state, which are designated as disturbed areas under the Act, to be withdrawn from the purview of the Act before the amendments take place.

Army is against any move to change the status quo on the Act.