Sarbananda Sonowal welcomes AFSPA withdrawal from more parts of Northeast

Union minister Sarbananda Sonowal on Sunday welcomed the lifting of AFSPA from more parts of the Northeast, maintaining it will ensure further growth of the region.

He also maintained that militants are leaving the path of violence and joining nation-building efforts in the northeastern states.

"Further relaxation of Armed Forces (Special Powers) Act, 1958 or AFSPA from many areas of Assam, Nagaland and Manipur is another welcome step by the Modi govt," Sonowal said in a statement here.

He said sustained and conscious efforts by Prime Minister Narendra Modi have resulted in permanent peace in the region.

"On behalf of all the people of the region, I extend my heartfelt gratitude to Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union Home Minister Amit Shah," the former Assam chief minister said.

Sonowal maintained that "dark days of violence, disturbance and insurgency during the Congress government" are now things of past.

"The insurgents have chosen to reject the road of violence as they jo