Kohima: Union Home Minister Amit Shah has said that the Armed Forces (Special Powers) Act (AFSPA), 1958 has been partially lifted in Nagaland and may be completely removed from the State in the next 3 to 4 years.
Addressing an election rally at the Parade Ground of Tuensang town on Tuesday along with Nagaland Chief Minister Neiphiu Rio, Deputy Chief Minister Y. Patton, Central BJP leaders and host of other leaders, Union Minister Shah claimed that Prime Minister Narendra Modi has got done several development works for the North-East region in seven to eight years and there is 70 pc decline in violence in the region, while civilian deaths were down by 83 pc.
He also informed that during the period, Modi had visited the North Eastern region more than 50 times, a first for the Prime Minster of the nation.
He highlighted the various schemes launched by the Modi Government and sought support for the NDPP-BJP alliance and strengthening the hands of PM Modi and Rio for peace and development.
Shah asserted that NDPP-BJP alliance will retain power.
Speaking on the demand for the Frontier Nagaland State by the Eastern Nagaland Peoples Organisation, Shah also vowed that a new wave of development would be initiated in Eastern Nagaland and also expressed his happiness to the former for withdrawing its resolution to abstain from forthcoming assembly elections on February 27 and said an agreement would be signed after the Assembly elections in the state.
Shah acknowledged the deficiency in development in Eastern Nagaland and termed the demand of Eastern Nagaland People’s Organisation (ENPO) as legitimate. He informed that the negotiations between Home Ministry and ENPO were initiated and these had been brought to a logical conclusion.
Addressing the rally, Nagaland Chief Minister Neiphiu Rio mentioned that the Naga issue will be solved under the leadership of Prime Minister Modi and expressed appreciation of the ‘sincerity and commitment’ of the Government of India to address the issue of Naga solution and ENPO demand. He acknowledged Mr. Shah for his visit to the ENPO area and termed it as a ‘sign of love.’
He said that the ENPO area will improve once candidates from BJP and NDPP are elected and it would bring development with the hand in hand support of the public.
