Meghalaya chief minister and National People’s Party (NPP) president Conrad Sangma on Tuesday said that the government in Meghalaya played a vital role in the removal of AFSPA from the state.
Addressing a press conference at State NPP president Dr Andrew Ahoto’s residence here on Tuesday, Sangma explained that the role of the State government was crucial in improving the overall law and order situation, which ultimately would lead to removal of AFSPA.
He pointed out that the Meghalaya government was steadfast in its stand that the “draconian” Act should be removed. “State governments play very important role because law and order is handled by them,” he added.
Referring to AFSPA in Nagaland, Sangma said he was optimistic that the State and Central governments would take a call on this, noting that the Act had proved to be only counter-productive vis-à-vis insurgency in the State and across the Northeast.
Maintaining that removing AFSPA would increase public confidence, Sangma said NPP was firm on its stand for removal of the Act not only from Nagaland, but the entire region.
“While we are moving in the right direction in terms of economic development, AFPSA does not fit in the growth story of the Northeast,” he remarked, urging both the State and Central governments to ensure that the Act was repealed. Asked whether Nagaland was prepared to handle law and order if AFSPA was repealed, Sangma commented that there could not be any solution at one go, but observed that the Act was definitely not helping the State.
He remarked that insurgency was a result of many socio-economic factors, pointing out that in Nagaland, it was a result of both socio-economic problems as well as use of force.
He acknowledged that security measures were required, but not in the manner of AFSPA. He called for increasing socio economic activities to open more economic avenues for the people.
He emphasised building trust among all stakeholders, thereby rendering AFSPA inconsequential.
On replacing Assam Rifles posted at Mon, the chief minister noted that this was a superficial move, adding that this would not have impact at the grassroots.
He said the State government needed to do something with law and order, not just by replacing a battalion.
“In the long term, this will not be the solution. The State government will have to find another way, which is withdrawal of AFSPA. This is the only way to move forward and build confidence among the people,” he added.
Referring to the State government not allowing other political parties to enter Oting after the incident, Sangma remarked that the government might have been concerned that multiple visits by parties would aggravate the situation.
Further asked whether leaders from Konyak civil society organisations (CSOs) should also have been present in the meeting with Union Home Minister Amit Shah recently, he agreed that leaders from CSOs should have been called to the meeting pointing out that it was not possible to find an acceptable and long-lasting solution to the Oting incident without participation of stakeholders and community leaders.
He said the meeting was convened with the objective to form a committee to examine withdrawal of AFSPA.
Sangma, who arrived from Manipur, had stopped over at Dimapur to interact with State party leaders.
Sangma had said that the demand to withdraw the controversial law– AFSPA, would be the key agenda of their party in the upcoming Manipur assembly election.