Hope to pull out AFSPA from across Nagaland in next 3-4 years: Amit Shah

Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Tuesday hoped to repeal the Armed Forces Special Powers Act, 1958 (AFSPA) from across Nagaland, asserting that Naga peace talks are underway and Prime Minister Narendra Modi's initiative will bring lasting peace in the northeastern state.

Addressing an election rally in Nagaland's Tuensang district, Shah said there were some issues related to the development and rights of eastern Nagaland and these would be addressed after the assembly elections. He claimed that the insurgency was on the decline in the Northeast and claimed that the region had seen a 70 percent drop in violent incidents under the BJP government.

The Union home minister also said there has been a 60 percent reduction in security force deaths, while civilian deaths have dropped by 83 percent in the Northeast. Noting that the Armed Forces (Special Powers) Act, 1958 has been abrogated by the BJP government from large parts of Nagaland, he expressed hope that the Act would be removed from the entire northeastern state in the next three to four years.

Elections to the 60-member Nagaland Assembly will be held on February 27 and the counting of votes will take place on March 2.