MLA slams Centre’s Assam Rifles decision

SHILLONG: Senior Congress leader Ampareen Lyngdoh has criticised the Ministry of Home Affairs for giving Assam Rifles in five northeastern states the power to arrest anyone and search a place without a warrant.
Talking to media persons here on Friday, Lyngdoh said with this notification, the Centre is infringing the sovereignty of the country by removing federal structure.
“You cannot treat us under the Armed Forces (Special Powers) Act and we are not a party to the act,” she added.
The Centre later withdrew the notification. Lambasting the Centre before the withdrawal of the notification, Lyngdoh said in future, Delhi may even declare emergency and put the northeastern states under President’s Rule. “You are undermining the capacity of the state armed force and state police to manage our own affairs,” she added.
Though the notification, which has created “a lot of confusion”, did not mention Meghalaya, it said Assam Rifles would be given the authority to operate in certain parts of the state.
“We are not happy with this notification and this will lead to chaos,” she said and added that the Centre’s move “is not painting a healthy picture of Meghalaya before the world”.