Imphal: Congress has slammed the state ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) government for being selective in lifting the Armed Forces Special Powers Act (AFSPA) from the valley regions of Manipur.
Moreover, the Manipur congress seeks equality in the valley as well as hill districts of the state over the lifting of the tag 'disturbed area' under AFSPA.
The state congress working President, K Devabrata stated that the BJP government in power has contradicted its assertion of improved law & order in Manipur by retaining the status of the disturbed areas in the hill areas of the state.
Apart from the Congress party, the United Naga Council (UNC) also raised questions on the BJP led state government over such a selective move in lifting the act only from valley areas.
The UNC has criticized the government for this and demanded that the disturbed area under AFSPA should be lifted from the Manipur hill areas.
The council hit out at the government in a statement mentioning that such a selective lifting of the act that gives special power to armed forces in Manipur is a deceptive step to pretend that something good is done.
UNC further said that no major change has been witnessed in military mobilization from such selective decision and in addition, it does not have any relevant connection with the people affected.
In the statement issued by UNC, it stated that though the centre alone has the power to make any changes regarding AFSPA inputs from the state government also play a major role.
The lifting of the act selectively from the valley areas in Manipur proves the fact that the hill regions in Manipur will continue to be under the disturbed area status.
The people in Manipur Hills will continue to witness the agony of chauvinistic attacks of the armed forces said UNC in its statement.
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