New Delhi, June 11 (NVI): Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Thursday said the Armed Forces (Special Powers) Act (AFSPA) is likely to be withdrawn from almost the entire Northeast by next year, with only one or two states expected to remain under its purview.
Addressing a function after the signing of a tripartite Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between the Centre and the governments of Assam and Nagaland for oil and mineral exploration in disputed border areas, Shah said the shrinking footprint of AFSPA reflects the significant improvement in the security situation across the region.
He termed the Assam-Nagaland agreement a landmark step that would strengthen peace and accelerate economic growth in the Northeast.
“The atmosphere of peace and stability in the region has improved considerably. We are hopeful that AFSPA will be removed from most Northeastern states in the coming year,” Shah said.
The Home Minister said the agreement removes a major obstacle to Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s vision of transforming the Northeast into a key centre of growth and opportunity. He noted that the pact would facilitate exploration of oil, natural gas and mineral resources in areas where development activities had remained stalled for more than three decades due to border disputes and security concerns.
Shah said unlocking these resources would attract investment, generate employment and contribute significantly to the region’s economic development.
Highlighting the potential of the project, he said one oil field in the identified area alone has recoverable reserves valued at over ₹15,000 crore. Effective utilisation of Nagaland’s energy resources, he added, could help reduce India’s dependence on imported fuel.
The Home Minister also underscored the Centre’s continued focus on the Northeast, stating that Prime Minister Modi has given unprecedented attention to the region and visited it more frequently than any previous Prime Minister.
Since 2019, the Centre has signed 12 peace accords with various groups and state governments, resulting in nearly an 80 per cent decline in violence-related incidents across the Northeast, Shah said.
Describing the MoU as an example of cooperative federalism, he said the agreement would pave the way for sustained development, prosperity and shared progress for the people of Assam and Nagaland. (NVI)
