Union Minister of State for Home Kiren Rijiju on Monday said he has already asked the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) officials to review the move of extending the Armed Forces Special Powers Act (AFSPA) to Arunachal Pradesh and sought suggestions from the State Government.
Rijiju’s statement came after the MHA recently extended the Act to the North-Eastern State on the grounds that the ongoing operation against the anti-talk faction of the NDFB and some other outfits may not be successful if the militants find a safe haven in Arunachal Pradesh.
“If the State Government is uncomfortable with extension of AFSPA, then we will honour it. law and order is a State subject and national security is dealt by Ministry of Home Affairs in close coordination with the State Government and the NDA Government will follow the spirit of cooperative federalism in the national interest,” Rijiju said in Itanagar on Sunday.
Already there has been protest in opposition to the extension of the AFSPA to the whole of Arunachal Pradesh without consulting the State Government. The AFSPA has been enforced in some areas of the State, which include Tirap, Changlang and longding districts (since 1991 after they were categorized as disturbed areas). The Act has also been extended to areas within 20-km radius that share borders with Assam.
Arunachal Pradesh Chief Minister Nabam Tuki had also recently expressed his displeasure over the extension of the AFSPA to the entire State and said, “While there has been an increase in insurgent activities in Assam and Nagaland borders, the rest of the areas of the State are still peaceful.
“I am in touch with the Arunachal Pradesh Home Minister, Tanga Byaling, over the issue. He verbally told me that the security forces cannot go beyond 20 km distance within Arunachal Pradesh while chasing the insurgents,” Rijiju said.
“However, if the State Government feels that the earlier position should be maintained, we have no issues. Only some modalities need to be worked upon for which the views of the State Government is being sought,” Rijiju added.
The lok Sabha MP from Arunachal Pradesh, however, expressed his concern over the situation in some of the border areas of Arunachal Pradesh and said that it is disturbing due to the activities of the militants.