Omar meets HM; discusses steps to improve situation

Jammu and Kashmir government is contemplating to put in place a more concrete mechanism to check inflow of foreign funds to protestors in the state, Chief Minister Omar Abdullah said on Saturday as he met Home Minister P Chidambaram in New Delhi.

"Yes, money is coming through various channels in the state. We are going to put in place some more concrete steps to stop the flow of funds," Omar told reporters.

The chief minister said he had a detailed discussion with the home minister about the prevailing situation in the state and the steps being taken to improve it.

"I have discussed with the home minister how to give better equipment to paramilitary forces and J & K police so that they can control the crowd in better ways so that no incident takes place and no one dies," he said.

Kashmir Valley has witnessed protests since June 11 when a teenaged boy died allegedly in teargas shelling by police in downtown Srinagar.

Asked about the opposition's allegation that he was losing control over the government, Omar said, "There was no point talking about such things now since we had given opposition a chance to express their views at the all-party meeting which they boycotted".

"I have not lost control over the government. Had I lost control over, the situation would have been worst. It is true that due to certain incidents in the valley, the situation was tense but gradually it is improving. It is obvious that the opposition wants that I should lose control so that they can take advantage of it," he said.

Asked about the deployment of the army, he said the army was deployed after the state government and various agencies assessed the situation and the report given to them.

"The state government and various agencies assessed the situation and on the basis of that, a decision is taken on Tuesday last," he said.