New Delhi: Main Opposition party BJP on Wednesday demanded the resignation of Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah for the ongoing violence that has claimed over 70 lives since June in the restive state.
"We have asked for Omar's resignation publicly...Omar cannot escape the blame," BJP spokesman Ravi Shankar Prasad told reporters after an all-party meeting at the residence of Prime Minister Manmohan Singh during which leaders from all major political outfits could not reach a consensus on the army's role in Jammu and Kashmir or the revocation of the controversial Armed Forces Special Powers Act (AFSPA).
Prasad promised his party's "constructive cooperation" if the Congress-led United Progressive Alliance (UPA) government decided on starting talks with various political parties in Kashmir "under the framework of Indian constitution."
Omar Abdullah, already under fire for his handling of the crisis in the Valley, chose to skip the meeting despite being in Delhi. However, Farooq Abdullah, former CM of Jammu and Kashmir and father of Omar Abdullah, said his son's efforts were praised by the government during the meeting.
The People's Democratic Party (PDP) asked for a phased removal of the armed forces from Kashmir, along with revocation of the AFSPA.
"We have appealed to all parties that the Kashmir problem should be looked at with a humane approach," PDP leader Mehbooba Mufti said. There should be unconditional dialogue from both sides, Mufti said.
There was sharp division on AFSPA, whose revocation was demanded by
PDP and NC but opposed by BJP and some other parties.
Parties like BJP, Shiv Sena, Samajwadi Party and RJD opposed any such
move, saying nothing should be done to demoralise the forces.
(With inputs from PTI)
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