The Manipur Congress has expressed concerns about the BJP-led state government's policy of the "repeal AFSPA" demand as it becomes louder in the Northeast. "If the BJP government believes that the state's peace and order situation has improved, then why are they not pulling the draconian AFSPA off Manipur's face till now?" asked Manipur Congress general secretary L Tilotama.

The Manipur Congress has opted to put its 'promise' to remove the Armed Forces Special Powers Act (AFSPA) in its electoral platform. In reality, if elected to power in Manipur, Congress promised to "immediately and completely withdraw" the "draconian legislation" from the whole state in the first cabinet meeting.

The Congress has also harped on the fact that while it was in power in Manipur in 2004, AFSPA was repealed in seven seats, including the state capital Imphal. As Manipur prepares for Assembly elections next year, AFSPA appears to be one of the primary campaign issues for the Congress party.

AFSPA, which grants security personnel sweeping authority to preserve public order in "disturbed regions," has been a source of contention in the Northeast.

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