Guwahati: Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Tuesday claimed that Naga peace talks were in progress and expressed optimism that Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s initiative to establish long-lasting peace in the northeastern state would be successful.
Speaking at a campaign rally in Tuensang, Shah claimed that following the assembly elections, several issues pertaining to the development and rights of eastern Nagaland would be resolved.
According to a PTI report, he asserted that there has been a 70% decrease in violent occurrences in the region under the BJP’s administration, indicating that insurgency in the Northeast is on the decline.
The Union home minister also claimed that civilian deaths have decreased by 83 percent in the Northeast while security force fatalities have decreased by 60%.
He expressed hope that the Armed Force (Special Powers) Act, 1958 will be repealed throughout the northeastern state in the following three to four years, noting that the BJP government had lifted the Act from much of Nagaland.
Elections to the 60-member assembly will be held on February 27 and votes will be counted on March 2.