Tuensang, February 21(MTNews): Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Tuesday said that he is hopeful that the Armed Forces (Special Powers) Act (AFSPA) will be removed across Nagaland in the next three-four years.
Addressing a joint rally of NDPP and BJP in Tuensang, Shah said Nagaland has witnessed peace and development under the Modi government, and that the centre had taken a number of steps to reduce violence in the North East.
The Home Minister also claimed that there has been a 70 per cent dip in violent incidents, a 60 per cent reduction in deaths of security forces, and an 83 per cent dip in civilian deaths in the northeast region under the BJP rule.
On the ENPO issue, the Union Home Minister said an agreement has been reached, and a deal will be made after the election, which will bring a new wave of development in the eastern region of the state.
Shah added that Naga peace talks are ongoing, adding that he hoped that the initiative taken by Prime Minister Narendra Modi to bring lasting peace to the state will bear fruit.
Shah also assured that benefits under Ayushman Bharat would be doubled from 5 lakh to 10 lakh rupees if an NDPP-BJP government is formed in the state.
Meanwhile, state Chief Minister Neiphiu Rio thanked the Union Minister for his visit to the ENPO area, and mentioned that the Naga issue will be resolved under Prime Minister Modi’s government.
Deputy Chief Minister Yanthungo Patton, in his speech noted that it is for the first time that a Union Home Minister is visiting the eastern Nagaland region and the public should ‘keep this in mind’.
