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 lifting 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 fact, if elected to power in Manipur, the Congress promised to "immediately and completely withdraw" the "draconian legislation" from the whole state in the first cabinet meeting. The union home minister reportedly promised the delegation that jobs would be provided to one member of each of the 14 victim families as soon as possible.

According to reports, the commandos of the 21 para special forces who were engaged in the failed counter-insurgency operation's death of innocent Naga people would be suspended. The Indian Army has already launched a court of enquiry into the Nagaland fire incident, which resulted in the deaths of 14 civilians, to be led by a major general.

On Monday, the Nagaland Assembly "unanimously agreed" to ask the Centre to remove AFSPA in the Northeast. The resolution presented by chief minister Neiphiu Rio stated, "The Nagaland Legislative Assembly overwhelmingly resolves to urge that the Government of India remove the Armed Forces Special Powers Act, 1958 from the Northeast, particularly Nagaland."

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