Assam CM Himanta Biswa Sarma pleads for complete withdrawal of Armed Forces Special Powers Act
Himanta Biswa Sarma met Union Home Minister Amit Shah and pleaded for complete withdrawal of the Armed Forces Special Powers Act (AFSPA) from the State.
In the course of the meeting that lasted for 30 minutes, Chief Minister Sarma and Union Home Minister Shah discussed threadbare the roadmap for complete withdrawal of AFSPA from Assam.
The Chief Minister cited the significant improvement in the law and order situation, surrendering of scores of underground cadres of extremist outfits with huge cache of arms and ammunition following signing of several peace accords and drastic fall in deaths of security personnel and civilians as reasons for complete lifting of AFSPA from Assam.
The Union Home Minister put forth some suggestions to the Chief Minister to pave the way for complete withdrawal of AFSPA from Assam. Sarma assured Shah that the state government would take further steps based on his suggestions.
Later in X (formerly Twitter), Chief Minister Sarma said, «I met Hon’ble Union Home Minister @AmitShah ji at his residence today to discuss the roadmap for the complete withdrawal of the Armed Forces Special Powers Act from Assam.
The Government of Assam will take further steps based on the suggestions of Hon’ble Home Minister.»
It may be noted that the ‘Disturbed Area’ notification was in force since 1990 in the whole of Assam. On April 1, 2022, the AFSPA was removed from the entire State of Assam except for nine districts, including one subdivision of another district.
