Omar Abdullah meets PM on AFSPA; Antony says 'mature' handling needed

Pushing for revocation of Armed Forces Special Powers Act in Jammu and Kashmir, Chief Minister Omar Abdullah Monday met Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and some senior ministers with an assertion that his proposal can be implemented while addressing the concerns of armed forces.

Defence Minister AK Antony, however, maintained that no time limit could be put on a decision on the "very very sensitive" which requires a "mature and cool" handling.

Amid persisting differences over the issue, Abdullah met the Prime Minister and Home Minister P Chidambaram to push his case for revocation of the controversial act from certain parts of the state. He was also scheduled to meet Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee.

"I believe that there is ample opportunity to address both the concerns of armed forces while still allowing us to go ahead with the position that we have taken, which is keeping with what the Cabinet Committee on Security recommended almost a year ago," Abdullah said after meeting Chidambaram.

He said he was meeting members of the Cabinet Committee on Security as part of efforts to evolve a consensus.

"Obviously the effort is to narrow the differences between what we would like to see happening and what the Army has so far publicly stated .. to let happen," he said.

Asked what assurance he received from the Prime Minister and the Union Ministers, Abdullah said it was not proper for him to say anything on their behalf.

"I am not...it is not my place to speak on behalf of 'raksha mantri' or the Prime Minister or the Home Minister. I have made our point of view very clear. They, I think, were very receptive, to what we had to say. As I say, this is an ongoing process, this will continue," he told reporters.