Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday said efforts are on to remove Armed Forces (Special Powers) Act (AFSPA) completely from the North East region.
Addressing a ‘Peace, Unity and Development’ rally here, he said that during the last eight years efforts to bring permanent peace and marked improvement in the law and order situation led to the withdrawl of the AFSPA from various parts of the region.
”As the situation improved with 75 per cent decrease in violence in region, there has been changes in the imposition of laws. The AFSPA was first revoked in Tripura and then in Meghalaya”, he said.
In Assam, the previous governments during the last three decades, had extended it again and again as there was no improvement in the law and order situation. During the last eight years, however, due to the proper control of the situation, the AFSPA has been removed from most parts of the state.
We are trying to remove it from the remaining parts too, Modi said.
The Act is applicable in some parts of Nagaland and Manipur and ”we are working speedily in this direction to revoke it completely from here”, he said,
In a major outreach to the northeast region, the Centre had announced reduction of the disturbed areas imposed under the AFSPA in Nagaland, Assam and Manipur from April 1, after decades.
The Prime Minister also said the effect of the BJP’s “double engine” government is evident in the return of permanent peace and speedy development in Assam.
The term “double engine” is used by BJP leaders to refer to the party being in power at the Centre as well as in a state.
”Several outfits of Karbi Anglong returned to the mainstream to march forward in the path of peace and development, the Bodo Agreement in 2020 paved the way for peace in region and in Tripura, the NLFT also came forward for the peace while the two and a half decade long Bru-Reang issue could also be resolved”, he said.
It is due to the collective effort of the centre and the state government that permanent peace could return to the region and speedy development of the region ensured. This process is ”on and will continue in the future”, he said.
”Earlier, the North East was known in the rest of the country for bomb blasts and violence and the worst sufferers were our mothers, sisters and children. Now as I see the smile on their faces when the youths have come out of the jungle and given up their arms, I feel God is showering blessings on me”.
The government has always tried to resolve the ”difficulties in Karbi Anglong and other tribal areas with the policy of ‘Sabka Saath, Sabka Vikas and Sabka Vishwas’. I have tried to understand each problem of the region as a family member and respect your dreams and aspirations. The people have explained their problems with their hearts and I have tried to resolve the problems sensitively as a family member”, Modi said.
Besides, efforts have been made to resolve the decades-old border disputes in the region in a cordial manner and ”I am want to specially thank the Chief Minister of Assam along with his counterparts from the North East as their efforts are helping the region to emerge as a strong economic power”, the Prime Minister said.
The recent boundary agreement between Meghalaya and Assam will encourage the states to resolve the issues and help them to march forward, he added.
The Prime Minister also laid the foundation stone of the College of Veterinary Science, agriculture and model government college in Karbi Anglong and also launched 2,985 Amrit Sarovars across the state.
He said that the Rs 1000 crore projects for Karbi Anglong will give new oppurtunities to the youths, particularly those who have returned to the mainstream to participate in the nation-building process.
”These foundations are not just that of any building or institutions but are the foundation for the bright future of the youths of Karbi Anglong”, he said.
Regarding the launch of Amrit Sarovars in the state, as a part of the Azadi ke Amrit Utsav, the Prime Minister said that he had started this Jammu and Kashmir last week and in Assam ”it will not only be a source of water but also of income generation”.
He said that besides the return of peace in the region, the governments were committed to strengthen the local self-government as schemes would be implemented at this level and ”for the progress of a nation, it was necessary for the state, village and towns also to progress”.
He also pointed out that for the economic strength of the region, people should focus on the concept of ‘vocal for local’.
