Himanta Biswa Sarma, Assam Finance Minister and convener of the North East Democratic Alliance, an offshoot of the NDA, has said the time has come for a gradual withdrawal of the Army from anti-insurgency duties.
He spoke to The Hindu on the sidelines of the India Ideas Conclave organised by the India Foundation in Goa. “There are tensions on the border, and the Army is needed for different kinds of deployment. We need to undertake police reforms and get them [the police] to do their job,” he said.
“The north-eastern States should prepare a road map in the next five years, along with the Centre and the Army, to do this. We are mindful of the Army’s role in fighting insurgency, and the sacrifices made by soldiers. It is, however, not their job, and the police should be doing it,” he said.
Among the north-eastern States, Assam and Manipur were ready for the withdrawal of the Army,” he said.
The BJP is aggressively pitching itself in Manipur, and this could be an election issue.
He did not touch on the Armed Forces (Special Powers) Act, but said a five-year period for training the police and a plan for the withdrawal of the Army was required.
AFSPA extended
Meanwhile, the Centre on Saturday extended AFSPA by six months across Assam and the 20 km-wide belt in Meghalaya bordering the State.
In a gazette notification, the Home Ministry said the law and order situation in Assam continues to be a matter of concern due to the violent incidents by underground outfits.
(With PTI inputs)
