Source: The Sangai Express
New Delhi, December 15:
A live show programme titled 'Apka Haak'' (Your Rights) was aired today on Jaanmath TV.
The main highlight of the 2-hour long programme aired from 1 to 3 pm was about the imposition of the infamous Armed Forces Special Powers Act in the North East States of India.
The talk show which was beamed all over the country was participated by many scholars, social activists, politicians and army officers and actor Shekhar Suman was the host of the show.
Among the scholars who made their observations on the issue and spoke against AFSPA were Suhas Chukma (Asian Centre for Human Rights), Tapir Gao (BJP), Dr Arunkumar Sharma (AGP), Dr Bimol Akoijam (Centre for Study and Developing Society) and Salam Rojesh (Expresident of MSAD).
Other scholars who still feel that imposition of AFSPA should remain North East States and are strongly opposed to repealing the Act were Major Dalbir Singh (Congress), Capt Bharat Verma (editor of Defence Weekly) and Prof Shri Dhar.
The talk show commenced with screening of a film on AFSPA which showed the nude protest by Manipuri women, self immolation by Chittaranjan and protestors being tortured by Indian Army and Assam Riffles.
After the film Prof Shri Dhar said that it was one sided and was just spreading a wrong message to the society and the film was nothing but a good editing work.
Maj Dhalbir Singh questioned why people in Manipur are not thinking about the Army personnel killed by militants.
He also asserted that the said Act has been placed because the place is declared as disturbed area.
He , however, suggested that AFSPA should be used in optimum limit and only for short period and only geographical area should be declared as disturbed area.
He also noted that the draconian part of the Act like shooting a person on mere suspicion under should be removed.
Capt Bharat Verma wondered why people always blame the army and observed that the Act can be removed from such area only when then is normalcy and good civil administration.
He also blamed Govt for not looking after such States while maintaining that such problem could be dealt only when there is industrialisation and development.
Nonetheless, he was of the view the Act should remain in the interest of keeping the territorial integrity of India intact.
Dr Bimol Akoijam strongly appealed for repealing the Act while pointing out NE States do not need such colonial Act for solving the problem of militancy.
He also questioned the rationale behind passing this Act by the Indian Parliament and imposing the same in the NE States including Manipur since 1958 when the problem of insurgency had come about in late 1960s only.
If insurgency is the reason, then why it is notimposed in other parts of India where the same problem exist, he asked.
During the talk show many viewers from all over whole India raised various queries on AFSPA.