The government on Thursday took a major decision on the Armed Forces Powers Act (AFSPA). The scope of AFSPA will be reduced in many areas of Assam, Manipur and Nagaland. Activist Irom Sharmila has welcomed this decision of the government. Sharmila fasted and dharna for 16 years to remove AFSPA from the northeastern states. According to reports, Sharmila welcomed the government's decision and said that "it is the real hallmark of democracy". Sharmila went on a hunger strike from November 2000 to August 2016 for the removal of AFSPA.
Irom Sharmila said, “This is a great opportunity for an activist like me. I am happy to see that mainstream politicians are willing to do something different. The decision to abolish the obsolete and colonial law is to be the real hallmark of democracy. This is the result of decades of fighting and a new beginning. The government has taken the first step. I want AFSPA to be abolished from the entire North East forever. People who have lost their loved ones or who have been harassed due to this law should get compensation.
Home Minister Amit Shah on Thursday announced that the disturbed areas under the Armed Forces Special Powers Act (AFSPA) are being reduced in Nagaland, Assam and Manipur from April 1 after decades. This decision of central government does not mean that AFSPA is being completely removed from these militancy-affected states, but this law will remain in force in some areas of the three states. Let us inform you that about three months ago, the Center had constituted a high-level committee to look into the possibility of removing AFSPA from Nagaland. In Nagaland in December last year, 14 civilians were killed by the army in a case of 'misidentification'.
“After decades, the central government, led by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, has decided to minimize the disturbed areas covered under Armed Forces (Special Powers) Act in Assam, Nagaland and Manipur after decades,"Home Minister Amit Shah said on Twitter. The Home Minister said that the areas under AFSPA are being reduced as a result of improvement in security, rapid development due to continuous efforts, several agreements made by the Modi government to end extremism and permanent peace in the Northeast.
