A partial move

Selective AFSPA relaxation changes little

The decision to reduce the footprint of the deeply unpopular Armed Forces Special Powers Act (AFSPA), 1958, in select districts of Assam, Nagaland and Manipur is a step in the right direction, but provided the government is prepared to follow up with some meaningful political engagement to restore normalcy. The partial relaxations do not detract from the fact that this draconian law, which has done much to vitiate relations between the Centre and states and harm the reputation of the armed forces, remains in force in large parts of these states. In Assam, for instance, AFSPA still covers 40 per