Efforts on to remove AFSPA completely from N-E: PM

Diphu (Assam):  Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday said efforts are on to remove AFSPA completely from the northeast region. Addressing a ‘Peace, Unity and Development’ rally here, he said the Armed Forces (Special Powers) Act could be withdrawn from various parts of the region as the law and order situation has improved in the last eight years.

“As the (law and order) situation improved with 75 per cent decrease in violence in the region, there have been changes in the imposition of laws. The AFSPA was first revoked in Tripura and then in Meghalaya,” he said.The previous governments in Assam in the last three decades had extended it again and again as there was no improvement in the law and order situation, Modi said.

“Due to the proper control of the situation in the last eight years, the AFSPA has been removed from most parts of the state. We are trying to withdraw it from the remaining parts too. “The Act is applicable in some areas of Nagaland and Manipur, and we are working speedily to revoke it completely,” he said.

In a major outreach to the northeast region, the Centre had announced reduction of the disturbed areas imposed under the AFSPA in Nagaland, Assam and Manipur from April 1, after decades. P M M o d i also said the effect of the BJP’s “double engine” gover nment is evident in the return of permanent peace. (PTI)