AFSPA extension in Nagaland: Ruling NDPP demands withdrawal of notification

The ruling Nationalist Democratic Progressive Party (NDPP) has expressed shock and anguish at the recent notification of the MHA declaring the whole of Nagaland as a disturbed area leading to the extension of Armed Forces Special Powers Act for another 6 months.

A release issued by the party stated that the notification belittled the high level meeting held between the Union Home Minister Amit Shah and Chief Ministers of Assam and Nagaland in New Delhi recently on the issue of repeal of AFSPA.

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The NDPP statement added that at a time when the people of Nagaland were under the impression that with the setting up of the high powered committee by the MHA to examine the demand for repeal of AFSPA there will be no orders or notifications issued till the Committee submitted a report. Thus the extension of AFSPA has come as a rude shock and huge disappointment to the people of the state.

The NDPP urged that the Government of India to reconsider and revoke the decision, especially in view of the fact that there is a mass movement against AFSPA, with the Nagaland Legislative Assembly passing a resolution on the same on December 20th.

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The NDPP argued that Nagaland was amongst the safest states for more than two decades now and there has been no serious encounter with the security forces. The ceasefire has been in place for the last 25 years and there is relative peace and tranquility in the state.

The only major incident that shockingly disturbed the peace was the Oting incident of December 4th, the NDPP said adding that the Mon killings had nothing to do with insurgency or law and order. In fact, it once again brought to the forefront the demand for removal of AFSPA, the NDPP statement added.

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