Confident AFSPA will soon be revoked from entire Assam: Amit Shah
The Hindu
Earlier Union Home Minister Amit Shah, who is on a two-day visit to Assam, awarded the Assam Police with the President's Colour in the presence of Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma
Union Home Minister Amit Shah on May 10 exuded confidence that AFSPA will soon be revoked from the entire Assam, as improved law and order and peace accords with militant outfits has already led to its partial withdrawal in the State.
Mr. Shah, after presenting the President's Colour to the Assam Police, said in his address 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”.
“The Armed Forces Special Powers Act has been revoked from 23 districts, and partially from one district. I am confident that it will be completely withdrawn from the entire State soon,” he said.
The Home Minister said those who have surrendered and returned to the mainstream are being rehabilitated by both the Central and State Governments.
“The Assam Police has a glorious history and has successfully tackled insurgency, border issues, smuggling of arms, drugs and cattle, rhino poaching and social issues like witchcraft to emerge as one of the foremost police forces of the country,” Mr. Shah said.
It rightly deserves to be honoured with the President's Colour, he added.
Earlier in the day, Mr. Shah, who is on a two-day visit to the northeastern State, awarded the Assam Police with the President's Colour in the presence of Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma and Director General of Police Bhaskar Jyoti Mahanta at the 'Alankaran Parade' ceremony.
No room for complacency till counting is completed, Chandrababu Naidu tells TDP-BJP-JSP contestants. The TDP-BJP-JSP alliance will register a comfortable victory in the general elections over the YSRCP, he says. Alleging that the YSRCP has conspired to create disturbances on the counting day, the TDP national president advises the chief counting agents and their teams to see to it that the officials adhere to norms related to counting.