Irom Sharmila Welcomes Centre's AFSPA Move, But Wants Complete Withdrawal
NDTV
Irom Sharmila, who is hailed as the 'Iron Lady of Manipur', termed AFSPA an "oppressive law"and said that it has never been a solution to tackling insurgency.
Rights activist Irom Sharmila, who was on a 16-year-long hunger strike demanding repeal of AFSPA, welcomed the Centre's decision to reduce areas under the Act's purview in Assam, Nagaland and Manipur, but maintained that the "draconian, colonial law" should be rolled back completely.
Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Thursday announced a reduction in the number of "disturbed areas" in the three northeastern states where the Armed Forces (Special Powers) Act, 1958 continues to be imposed along with Jammu and Kashmir.
Ms Sharmila, hailed as the 'Iron Lady of Manipur', termed AFSPA an "oppressive law" and said that it has never been a solution to tackling insurgency.
"I welcome the Centre's decision to reduce the number of areas under the AFSPA's purview. It is a positive step in the right direction. But the law should be repealed as it is not a solution," she told PTI in a telephonic interview.
