“The government has retrospectively imposed Afspa in the state,” Jairam Ramesh, Congress party’s senior election observer for Manipur, said, citing the BJP-led government’s decision to extend the ‘disturbed area’ status of the state last month despite a recommendation against it by Manipur Human Rights Commission.
“Both the central and state BJP governments failed to provide constitutional and legal protection to the indigenous people of Manipur,” Ramesh alleged.
Congress, in its manifesto for the assembly polls to be held on February 28 and March 5, has promised to urge the Centre to repeal Afspa and preserve unity and integrity of the state.
National People’s Party (NPP), a partner in the BJP-led government, too, has promised to work towards the repeal of Afspa from Manipur. NPP is contesting the assembly polls on its own.
BJP in its manifesto released by national president Jagat Prakash Nadda on Thursday promised to protect the territorial integrity and preserve the rights of the indigenous people of Manipur and its rich cultural heritage.
There is a growing clamour for repeal of Afspa across Northeastern states after 14 civilians were killed by security forces in Mon district of Nagaland on December 4 last year.
The controversial Act can be lifted through revocation of ‘disturbed area’ status.
While Imphal municipal area is not part of it, the Manipur government had on January 11 extended the ‘disturbed area’ status of the rest of the state for one year with retrospective effect from December 1, 2021.
Manipur Human Rights Commission had in the last week of December said the continuation of the ‘disturbed area’ status in the state was no longer “warranted” after examining a report submitted by state additional DGP.
Chief minister Nongthombam Biren Singh in an interview to ET last month had said that while he was against Afspa personally, the ground reality was that “some militants are there, some outfits are there with weapons inside the camp, and our state is bordering Myanmar”.
“My priority is to remove Afspa. However, I also have to see the national security. We have to create an atmosphere where the Centre removes AFSPA and I am working on those lines,” he had said.
Congress attacked the BJP-ruled state government by questioning that if law and order has improved then why Afspa has been extended.
Irom Sharmila Chanu, who fasted for nearly 16 years demanding repeal of Afspa, had begun her fast in November 2000 after 10 people were killed allegedly by Assam Rifles in an encounter with militants at Malom near Imphal airport. On July 15, 2004, 12 women had disrobed outside the historic Kangla Fort in Imphal in protest against the brutal killing of Manorama Thangjam, a 32-year-old woman, who had been picked up by Assam Rifles.
