Srinagar, Apr 22: Drawing a parallel with insurgency in Maoist-infested areas, Chief Minister Omar Abdullah has said Jammu and Kashmir should be given a choice on revoking the Armed Forces Special Powers Act (AFSPA) from some areas.
 “If Maoist-infested states can choose not to use the army, why can't my state choose not to use it in some areas?” Omar wrote on micro-blogging site Twitter. “I want to know why no one is demanding AFSPA in these areas when they are so keen to see it continue in J&K,” he said.
 Omar, however, dismissed suggestions that he was supporting the use of army to tackle Maoists. “I am not. I'm asking why those making a big deal about it in my state are happy to be quiet in this case with a worse problem.”
 According to reports, Naxalites are active across approximately 180 districts in 10 states of India.
 Omar raised the pitch over AFSPA revocation since October 21 last year when at a police function near Zewan on the outskirts of Srinagar, he declared that the controversial law would be removed from parts of the state “within days”.
 But the Chief Minister had to go slow on the ‘ambitious’ announcement after the state Congress and the Army opposed the move tooth and nail.
 Omar had recently announced at the floor of the state assembly that the AFSPA would be removed from the parts of the state by the end of this year.
 However, the Army Chief Gen VK Singh recently said that the Army has already made its stand clear on the revocation of the law. WITH INPUTS FROM PTI

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