Omar accuses Centre of bias

Accusing the Centre of adopting a "different yardstick" for Jammu and Kashmir, Chief Minister Omar Abdullah today questioned its "pick and choose" policy over Afzal Guru hanging and revoking of AFSPA while decrying the arrest of suspected Hizbul militant Liyaqat Shah.
"When I talk about revoking AFSPA, you don't want to take the risk, but you hang Afzal (Guru). Why don't you have the courage to revoke AFSPA... After hanging of Afzal Guru, you cannot bring him back, but after removal of AFSPA, you can reimpose it", Omar said while replying to debate on demand for grants in the Legislative Assembly.

Omar said "when we talk about AFSPA, we were told you are pushing the state to danger-- I do not understand when we are ready for experiment in J&K--why there is always pick and choose-- when this government shouted and screamed that by hanging Afzal Guru the situation in J&K state will deteriorate you ignored that-- that was your right".
He said AFSPA is not imposed in Naxal violence hit areas. "There are no helicopters shot down in Kashmir, but you have a different yardstick for J&K."
On arrest of Liyaqat Shah, Omar said he was coming to the state to surrender under the state's rehabilitation policy for ex-militants.

"If a man comes to attack a shopping mall, will he come with his wife and children? Tell me. I am hearing for the first time that a militant came to attack holding the hand of his wife and carrying weapons in other hand, as if going for a picnic."
The CM said he has asked the Home Minister that NIA should examine the case.
"We have taken up the issue with Centre, because we know if wrong is done with Liyaqat, others who want to take benefit of surrender policy will hold back.