Repeal AFSPA chorus grows louder in Northeast, M’laya CM, TIPRA Chief join in

With the killing of civilians in Nagaland’s Mon, the chorus for the repeal of the Armed Forces Special Power Act (AFSPA) has grown louder in the Northeastern states. Two of

With the killing of civilians in Nagaland’s Mon, the chorus for the repeal of the Armed Forces Special Power Act (AFSPA) has grown louder in the Northeastern states.

Two of the region’s chief ministers, Nagaland Chief Minister Neiphiu Rio and Meghalaya Chief Minister Conrad Sangma have openly called for removal of the act in the region.

Besides the Chief Ministers, Tripura Royal Scion and the TIPRA chief Pradyot Manikya have also called for the repeal of the AFSPA Act.

Sharing a video on Twitter, Pradyot Manikya said, “The law AFSPA enacted on September, 11, 1958 has failed miserably in the Northeast for the last 63 years. It has done nothing but further alienated the people of Northeast.”

He then urged the Government of India to reconsider and repeal the Act.

Nagaland CM Neiphiu Rio while paying his last respects to the victims of the firing incident in Mon district yesterday called AFSPA a draconian act and said that it has no place in a democratic country like India.

CM Rio also said that he has taken up the issue of removal of AFSPA with Union Home Minister Amit Shah.

On the other hand, Meghalaya CM Conrad Sangma reiterated that the AFSPA should be repealed from Nagaland as he joined the growing chorus for withdrawal of the law.

AFSPA, 1958 is an act of the Parliament of India that gives special powers to the Indian Armed Forces to maintain public order in “disturbed areas”.

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