Kohima, Dec 31: The ruling Nationalist Democratic Progressive Party (NDPP) with Chief Minister Neiphiu Rio as its senior leader on Friday demanded to nullify and revoke Union Home Ministry’s (MHA) notification extending the Armed Forces (Special Power) Act, 1958 (AFSPA) in the entire Nagaland.

The NDPP’s demand to revoke the MHA’s Thursday’s notification extending the AFSPA in entire Nagaland till June 30 next year comes after almost all political parties and Naga Civil Society Organisations (CSO) are strongly demanding and agitating to repeal the AFSPA after the killing of 14 people and injuring 30 others by security forces in Mon district.

The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) with 12 MLAs is an ally of the NDPP-led Nagaland government and saffron party’s legislature group leader Y. Patton is the Deputy Chief Minister.

The NDPP in a statement said that issuing notifications and orders with such language is unwarranted and will negatively impact the ambition and aspirations of the young generation, especially when the people are anxiously waiting for a final settlement of the Naga peace talk involving various groups.

“Nagaland has been undergoing positive growth in the tourism and service sector and has emerged as a popular destination. But with unnecessary extension of disturbed areas and the imposition of the AFSPA, our efforts towards economic growth and integration with the mainstream will only be negatively impacted,” the statement said.

The statement issued by the NDPP’s Media and Communication Committee said that the ceasefire which has been in place for the last 25 years is working and there is relative peace and tranquillity and the overall law and order situation in Nagaland has been very peaceful with the state having also been acknowledged as the most peaceful state at many forums.

“In view of the fact that there is a mass movement against the AFSPA, with the Nagaland Assembly having loudly advocated the feelings of the people through the Assembly resolution of December 20 which has been submitted to the Government of India through the  Union Home Minister (Amit Shah).”

“The MHA notification only belittles the high level meeting held between the Union Home Minister, Nagaland and Assam Chief Ministers, Deputy Chief Minister of Nagaland and the Leader of the NPF (Naga People’s Front) Legislature Party and former Chief Minister of Nagaland on December 23 in Delhi,” it stated.