"Against AFSPA, But Nation First": Manipur Chief Minister On Controversial Law

"I am myself against AFSPA," Manipur Chief Minister N Biren Singh said, adding, "But as a responsible head of state I have to see national security also."

The BJP government in Manipur will work towards creating a "conducive" law and order atmosphere in the state so that it can push the centre to remove AFSPA - a law that gives sweeping powers to the armed forces - if it wins another term, Chief Minster N Biren Singh told NDTV.

Neighbouring Nagaland is already looking to remove the Armed Forces (Special) Powers Act, or AFSPA, after six miners returning home were killed in an army ambush that went horribly wrong in December last year. In all 14 including a soldier were killed in violence that erupted.

"AFSPA is a concern in the north-east, and in Manipur it was removed from seven segments of the Imphal Municipal Council. But the previous Congress government could not repeal AFSPA totally. They (Congress) could have removed it from Greater Imphal areas, but they knew the ground realities... there are still some problems in Manipur," Mr Singh told NDTV.

The Nagaland incident led to protests against the centre over AFSPA, which is still in force in parts of the north-east. The main opposition in Manipur, the Congress, has already said that if voted to power it will pass a resolution in the state assembly to withdraw AFSPA in its first cabinet meeting.