AFSPA : A test for Delhi
- The Sangai Express Editorial :: April 05, 2010 -

New Delhi needs to realise that the infamous Armed Forces Special Powers Act is a two edged sword. Not only is the Act a remnant of a legislation passed during the British Raj to silence the voice of freedom, but it also reflects the point that the idea of India as a Nation is yet to take firm roots.

In other words Indian Nationhood is yet to achieve the maturity befitting a Nation which gained independence more than half a century ago. To the political leaders of the country, the Act is necessary to protect the territorial integrity of the country in the face of rising armed insurrection in the North East region.

Delhi has a point or two on this front, for it has to guard its boundary against potentially unfriendly neighbours, especially with China laying claims on parts of Arunachal Pradesh.

It also stands true that the respective States of the North East cannot be expected to blunt the fire power and influence of the numerous armed groups operating in the region.

Herein lies the necessity of calling in the Army and the para-military forces, especially the Assam Rifles, to contain the agenda and movements of the militants. This is all fine from the view point of Delhi and its mandarins, but one crucial point that cannot be overlooked or ignored is the fact that AFSPA has not been able to stem the rot.

A case in point is Manipur which has seen the rise of numerous armed groups after the whole State came under the disturbed area category paving the way for the imposition of the Armed Forces Special Powers Act in 1980. It is also important to note that talking of a political solution and taking recourse to the controversial Army Act just does not jell.

The Justice Jeevan Reddy Commission has already recommended the abolition or amendments of the Act, which many human rights activists have come to dub as draconian. Even Prime Minister Manmohan Singh has called for a more humane Act in place of AFSPA.

This stand is an implication that the political leaders of the day now realise that while AFSPA may be able to contain the activities of the militants to some extent its negative impact far outweighs the positives.

The Act not only results in giving unbridled powers to the armed forces, leading to gross human rights violations, but also alienates the people, who already feel that they do not figure in political and economic consciousness of the country.

The fact that this Act is in force only in the North East and Kashmir and not in other parts of the country has only gone to 'legitimise' such sentiments.

This is one among many other reasons why so many people in the North East are under the impression that the Centre is interested in the region only to safeguard its eastern front and care two hoots about the people.

It is against this backdrop that Union Home Minister P Chidambaram recently talked about the possible amendment of AFSPA at Itanagar. A country which has already crossed 60 years of independence has no business to stick to an Act which was passed by their erstwhile colonial ruler.

AFSPA should go, lock, stock and barrel. The test for Delhi starts now !