Assam, Army wanted full removal of AFSPA; ‘cautious’ Centre kept it: CM Himanta Biswa Sarma
AFSPA) from Assam however the Government of India after its assessment has kept it in four districts.
Sarma on Monday said that the Assam government had recommended withdrawal of AFSPA from the remaining eight districts of the state. “ The Government of India withdrew it from the four districts, Jorhat, Golaghat, Karbi Anglong and Dima Hasao with effect from October 1".
He said now AFSPA is in four districts of Dibrugarh, Tinsukia, Sivasagar and Charaideo, “ In next six months the government of India will do further assessment and this will lead to complete withdrawal of the army."
Sarma said, “ Centre wants to be a bit cautious and they are going in a phased manner.
The Army insisted on complete withdrawal as in their assessment Assam is completely safe. But the government of India has a different assessment and wants us to continue with four districts for the time being.
The government of India is a repository of information of what is happening outside the country. Therefore Holistic decisions have to be taken by the Government of India and not by the government of Assam.”
The Assam cabinet in a meeting on September 8 has made a recommendation to the Central Government to withdraw Disturbed Areas Act and AFSPA from the State.
Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma said that the cabinet has taken historic decisions and made a recommendation to the Central Government to withdraw Disturbed Areas Act and Armed Forces Special Powers Act (AFSPA) from the State. AFSPA has been there for a long time now.
Sarma recently met Union Home Minister Amit Shah and pleaded for complete withdrawal of the Armed Forces Special Powers Act (AFSPA) from the State.
Sarma and Union Home Minister Shah discussed threadbare the roadmap
