Congress slams AFSPA extension in Nagaland
The Hindu
It calls for united agitation to seek repeal of Act
The Congress has slammed the Centre’s decision to extend the Armed Forces (Special Powers) Act (AFSPA) in Nagaland days after the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) set up a panel to decide on withdrawing the Act in the State.
The Congress general secretary, communications, Randeep Surjewala, in a tweet accused the government of pushing “a hitherto peaceful North East into an abyss of lawlessness, insurgency and chaos”.
Since December 4, when 13 civilians were killed in a botched operation by the Army near Oting in Mon district, the protests against the AFSPA have sharpened in the State and the entire northeast.

“Walk for Equality was aimed at creating a movement to crush the forces attempting to divide the people along religious line, said Marumalarchi Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (MDMK) leader Vaiko. Concluding his 140-kilometre ‘Samathuva nadai payanam’ from Tiruchi to Madurai on Monday, Mr. Vaiko said, “The Hindutva forces are actively attempting to drive a wedge between communities through various incidents, most notably the Thirupparankundram deepam controversy, using identity-based politics to achieve their divisive motives.”












