60% Assam free of AFSPA: Shah
Lauds role of govt for tackling insurgency
Union home minister Amit Shah here on Tuesday said that the Armed Forces Special Powers Act (AFSPA) has been removed from 60 per cent areas of Assam and asserted the state will be completely free from insurgency in the years to come and subsequently AFSPA free as well.
Shah, who presented the President’s Colours to the Assam police in a ceremony at Nehru Stadium, in his address said that due to the efforts of the Centre and Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma most of the militant outfits have entered into peace agreements and the day is not far when the entire state will be completely free from insurgency and violence.
He pointed out that peace agreements are being reached one after the other with the extremist groups, astray youths are joining the mainstream and parleys are being held with the neighbouring states to resolve seven decades old border disputes.
The home minister said, “In the 1990s, AFSPA was implemented in Assam, it was extended 60 times in the Congress regime. After eight years of Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s rule, 13 districts in the state have been made AFSPA-free while it has been removed from over 60 per cent area of Assam.”
He clarified that the areas under the AFSPA have been reduced in Assam due to the
improved law and order situation in the state and peace accords. “We are committed to ensure that AFSPA is removed from all areas in the State,” said Shah.
Shah said that there was a time when Assam was given AFSPA but now youths are getting new powers of jobs and aspirations.
The home minister also lauded the role of the state government in tackling the insurgency while stating that those who have surrendered and returned to the mainstream are being rehabilitated by both the central
and state governments.
Awarding the Assam police with the President’s Colours in the presence of Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma and director general of police Bhaskar Jyoti Mahanta at the ‘Alankaran Parade’ ceremony at Nehru Stadium Shah said, “The Assam police has a glorious history and has successfully tackled insurgency, border issues, arms smuggling, drugs and cattle smuggling, rhino poaching and social issues like witchcraft to emerge as one of the foremost police forces of the country.”