Shillong, Mar 31: Chief Minister Conrad Sangma on Thursday welcomed the decision of the Ministry of Home Affairs to reduce disturbed areas under Armed Forces Special Powers Act (AFSPA) in Nagaland, Assam and Manipur.
Speaking to reporters at the sidelines of an event, Sangma said, “We welcome the decision of the Government of India to reduce the areas covered under AFSPA in the North East region. Special thanks for Hon’ble PM and the Hon’ble Home Minister for taking this important step in the larger interest of the people of the North East.”
He said the repeal of AFSPA is a long pending issue for the people of the North East region as a whole but the announcement to reduce areas under AFSPA will surely lead to a positive message for the people of the region and is a welcome step.
Stressing for complete repeal of the act from the region given the current situation and circumstances in the region, he said “AFSPA is an act that has gone beyond its time and has not been able to achieve its objectives.”
He nonetheless thanked the Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union Home Minister Amit Shah for the step and expressed that “this is another reflection about the concerns that the Hon’ble Prime Minister and Hon’ble Home Minister have for the people of North East.”
Welcome the decision of the Government of India to reduce the areas covered under AFSPA in the North east region. Special thanks for Hon’ble @PMOIndia & Hon’ble @AmitShah for taking this important step in the larger interest of the people of the North East.
— Conrad Sangma (@SangmaConrad) March 31, 2022
The Government of India on Thursday announced to reduce the disturbed areas under Armed Forces Special Powers Act (AFSPA) in Nagaland, Assam and Manipur after decades as there has been significant improvement in the security situation in these states and the entire North Eastern region as a whole. The reduced coverage of AFSPA will come into effect from April 01, 2022.
