Summary:
New Delhi, Jan 23 (PTI) Manipur Chief Minister N Biren Singh on Sunday said the people of his state and he himself wanted the Armed Forces (Special Powers) Act to be lifted but added that it should be done with consent of the Centre.
Underlining that national security is top priority, Singh said, "We are a border state and share an international border with Myanmar.
I have to see the national interest as well." Ahead of the assembly election in the state, there has been a growing chorus for the withdrawal of the Armed Forces (Special Powers) Act, or AFSPA.
"The people of Manipur, including me, want that AFSPA should be lifted, but after a mutual understanding with the central government as national security is the first priority for us," Singh told PTI in an interview.
"It is not possible to do so without assessing the ground situation," he added.
Talking about the law and order situation in the state, Singh said in the last five years, "no major unwanted incidents have been reported and insurgency has come down by 90 per cent." "Therefore, I believe AFSPA can be lifted gradually with the consent of the central government.