Omar threatens to resign over AFSPA row

Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah has threatened to resign in the wake of the government's decision to call an all party meeting on Wednesday on the issue of repealing of the Armed Forces Special Powers Act in the valley, sources close to the CM told rediff.com on Tuesday.

According to them, Abdullah is waiting for the return of his father and National Conference president Farooq Abdullah from South Africa before taking a final decision on the issue.

"I will have to think whether to continue as chief minister of the state or not. Let my party president Dr Farooq Abdullah return and we will discuss the situation," Omar told a group of journalists late on Monday night.

He was upset with the fact that the Cabinet Committee on Security, which met under the chairmanship of Prime Minister Manmohan Singh on Monday evening, didn't take a decision on the repealing of AFSPA. Instead of rejecting or accepting the demands made by Abdullah, the Centre has decided to call an all party meeting on Wednesday.

On Monday, Delhi's political circles were abuzz with rumours that Omar Abdullah has threatened to resign in case his demand for the repealing of AFSPA in some areas of Kashmir is not accepted by the CCS.

In the most violent day in Kashmir since the unrest started three months ago, 18 people were killed and 80 injured in protests on Monday.