GUWAHATI: The Arm Armed Forces (Special Powers) Act (AFSPA) will soon be a thing of the past in Assam. Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma held a crucial meeting with Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Monday to deliberate on the roadmap for a comprehensive withdrawal of the controversial Act from the state. The chief minister affirmed that his government would proceed with further actions based on the guidance provided by the Union Home Minister.
Taking to the microblogging platform, Sarma shared, “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.”
This high-level discussion came just a day after the Home Ministry announced its decision to further reduce the disturbed areas under the AFSPA in Assam. The new notification is scheduled to take effect on September 15.
Addressing reporters following the meeting, Chief Minister Sarma reiterated that the Assam government is committed to pursuing the complete withdrawal of AFSPA from the state.
During his Independence Day address in Guwahati last month, Chief Minister Sarma had expressed his government’s dedication to withdrawing AFSPA from the entire state by the end of the year. He stated, “I want to assure the people of Assam that by the end of this year, we will take fruitful steps to withdraw the AFSPA from every district of Assam. That will be an “amritmoy” time for Assam’s history, and we are eagerly waiting for that day.”
Notably, AFSPA has been recommended for extension 62 times since its initial application in Assam over three decades ago. It was first imposed in 1990, granting the armed forces significant powers in areas designated as “disturbed,” including the authority to conduct searches, make arrests, and use force.
