Prathamesh Basagare, Pune
On Tuesday, Assam’s Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma announced a significant objective for the state government – the complete removal of the Armed Forces Special Powers Act (AFSPA). Addressing the audience during the Independence Day festivities at Khanapara Playground, CM Sarma said that under his administration, the AFSPA currently maintains jurisdiction in eight districts of the state.
Sarma stated, “Our government’s aim is to completely withdraw the Armed Forces Special Powers Act from the state by the end of this year. Before we came to power, previous governments had requested the Centre to extend AFSPA 62 times. Now the situation has been improving.”
Four peace agreements were signed with rebel organizations during his time as CM, and about 8,000 militants joined mainstream politics. Additionally, he stated that his administration is dedicated to making Assam a “drug-free” and “corruption-free” state.
In the past two years, 27 public officials have been apprehended by the police on corruption allegations.
Furthermore, he said that a total of 127 government employees have been taken into custody over corruption allegations. His administration has proactively moved to terminate the employment of these detained officials. The intention of his government is to enact robust legislation aimed at eradicating polygamy within the state.
On July 31, Sarma contended that the north-east region had endured “geographical isolation, political instability, and imbalanced development” for 70 years due to the previous “Congress governments’ intentional ploys to divide and rule”.
He also asserted that numerous conflicts in the region, persisting for seven decades, were successfully resolved within nine years of the BJP-led NDA government’s leadership at the Central level.