Somnath lends support to AFSP Act repeal
>From Our Spl Correspondent
NEW DELHI, Dec 12 Lok Sabha Speaker, Somnath Chatterjee today joined Members
in appealing to Sharmila Irom to end her fast-unto-death, even as pressure
mounted on the Centre to repeal the Armed Forces (Special Powers) Act 1958. The
Speakers appeal came after Members responding to NCP leader PA Sangmas Zero
Hour notice, called on the Centre to resolve the tangle. Lok Sabha Members
belonging to the Left parties, the BJP, UPA allies and regional parties were up
on their feet, this afternoon, hearing that Sarmila has been taken off her life
support system in the aftermath of the Prime Ministers announcement in Imphal
to amend the Act.
Sharmila, who has been on an indefinite fast, since last six years, demanding
repeal of the Act, has been kept alive through forced feeding after Police
arrested her and admitted her to hospital.
Sangma drawing the attention of the House today, called for repeal of the AFSP
Act describing it as draconian and symbol of repression. When the Prime
Minister himself has said it is an inhuman act, it should be thrown out, he
said.
The BP Jeevan Reddy Committee has also recommended that it should be repealed.
Sangma quoted some portion of the Review Committees Report that is yet to be
made public by the Central Government. On behalf of the people of Manipur and
North-east, I demand repeal of the Act, he said.
Asserting that the Act failed in its purpose, Sangma pointed out when the Act
was promulgated in 1958 there was one insurgent outfit and when it was put into
force the number increased to four. Now after all these years, there are at
least 25 insurgent groups in Manipur alone, he asserted.
In reply to a question in the Lok Sabha, Union Minister of State for Home
Affairs, S.Reghupathy said that 71, complaints during the last three years, of
oppression and high handedness have been received by Central paramilitary
forces in the North-east.
Cases of abuse of power is established after proper inquiry, action against the
guilty security officer is taken in accordance with the law concerning the
particular force, the minister said.
Supervisory officers closely monitor all operations and cognisance is taken of
deviations, if any.
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