Manipur shows gratitude to PM Modi for working to lift APSPA

Imphal: Manipur chief minister N. Biren Singh and his ministers expressed gratitude to Prime Minister Narendra Modi for reportedly announcing that the Centre was working towards lifting of the Armed Forces (Special Powers) Act (AFSPA) from the Northeast region as law and order situation has improved.

Biren expressed that he along with the state cabinet ministers have discussed the Prime Minister’s commen and sincerely appreciate the comment and conviction of the Prime Minister who is trying relentlessly to revoke the AFSPA from the Northeastern part of the country.

“It is the common desire of the people to revoke, remove the act from the NE particularly from Manipur,” he said.

Highlighting that the Union home minister had recently removed the Act from the jurisdiction of some police stations, however some areas were left out, the chief minister said his government as a team is urging the Prime Minister to materialise the issue as per the desire of the people of the state and the people of the NE.

He said, “We will be very grateful to the Prime Minister if the AFSPA can be lifted from the entire North East particularly from Manipur. Once again from our side we would like to thank the Prime Minister for his deep concern for the people of the Northeast,” he said.

The chief minister also acknowledged the presence of various insurgent groups and said some are in Suspension of Operation with the government, and some are not and that the state government is initiating to bring them all to the negotiating table so that a political solution, an amicable solution can be reached.

Stressing that the Prime Minister has rightly said that 75 percent of insurgency has been reduced in the entire NE region, he said, it is because of the Prime Minister’s tireless and visionary action plan since 2014 when he became the Prime Minister of the country.

Northeast once had the feeling of alienation from mainland India, but now the region has become an integral part of the country and the people of the region don’t have the feeling of alienation now and have become a part of united India, Biren said.

All this is because of the Prime Minister’s effort, developmental works, humanity service, schemes, benefits. He is doing whatever he can for the NE people, Biren said adding that he along with his team would like to appreciate the Prime Minister for his work.