'Special' power to youth now: Union Home Minister Amit Shah

We assure the people of Assam that we will work every moment for public welfare in the next four years: CM

STAFF REPORTER

GUWAHATI: Union Home Minister Amit Shah today said that the Centre had given 'special' power to the Army to bring peace back to Assam. "Now, we give special power to the youth of Assam for the development of the state," he said.

The Union Home Minister said this at a function at the Veterinary Field here on the completion of one year by the Himanta Biswa Sarma-led Government in the state.

Shah said, "The Armed Forces (Special) Power Act (AFSPA) was extended in Assam for years to control insurgency. In the past six years, the State Government's zero-tolerance policy for insurgents changed the situation. Almost all insurgent groups of Assam joined the mainstream. It paved the way for the withdrawal of the AFSPA from 60 per cent of areas of the state. I hope we will withdraw the AFSPA from the remaining areas of the state. We gave special power to the Army for counter-insurgency operations in the state. Now, we give special power to the youth for the development of the state."

Praising Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma, Shah said, "In the past one year, this government took a tough stance against drugs, cattle smuggling, encroachment of xatra lands etc. Cattle smuggling to Bangladesh from Assam is almost nil now."

On infiltration, Shah said, "I visited the India-Bangladesh border yesterday. Through interactions with the BSF, I realized that infiltration from Bangladesh is a bare minimum now. Infiltration will come to an end after the fencing of the unfenced border stretch."

Shah also said, "Assam plays a big role in resolving boundary disputes with its neighbouring states. The State Government is working on Clause VI of the Assam Accord to provide a safeguard to the Assamese people. The Northeast did much in the past six years on what Prime Minister Narendra Modi had planned for the region."

Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma said, "Last year, we worked for the indigenous people. We took a tough stance to make Assam free from crimes and drugs. We have ensured land rights to around eight lakh people through Mission Basundhara, besides bridging the government-public gap through digitalization. We assure the people of Assam that we will work every moment for public welfare in the next four years. We will not compromise on the safety of the people of Assam."

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