New Delhi, Nov 14 (Agencies): Jammu and Kashmir Chief minister Omar Abdullah is meeting Prime Minister Manmohan Singh today to present the case of the state government for removal of AFSPA from certain parts of the state.

The chief minister is also scheduled to meet Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee and Home Minister P Chidambaram.

Ahead of his meeting with the Prime Minister Abdullah had met Defence Minister A K Antony and Army Chief V K Singh on Sunday to press for early removal of the Act from certain parts of the state.

During his meeting with Antony, Omar had presented his case for removal of AFSPA from at least four districts – two each in Kashmir and Jammu, official sources said.

While Antony had conveyed the reservations of the Army over such a move, Omar had emphasised the need to translate the promises made by the National Conference-Congress alliance on ground and reward the people of the state for maintaining a peaceful year, the sources said.
To drive home his point, Omar had noted that he state has seen a boom in the tourism industry with nearly 13 lakh tourists visiting the state till October this year.

There are, however, no official word on what transpired during the hour-long meeting between Omar and the Army Chief.

The Army has voiced its serious reservations over withdrawal of AFSPA from certain parts citing security concerns.

A Unified Headquarters meeting was held recently in which Army gave a detailed briefing on its opposition for even partial removal of AFSPA from certain areas of the state and also went to the extent that if AFSPA is removed, Kashmir may become independent by 2016, a statement which shocked everyone present at the meeting.