NEW DELHI: The controversial Armed Forces (Special Powers) Act or the AFSPA found mention in the Congress party's manifesto that was released on Tuesday. The party promised to amend the act that grants special powers to the Indian armed forces in 'insurgency-hit' areas if it was voted to power in the upcoming Lok Sabha elections The Congress in its manifesto stated (page 35), "Amend the Armed Forces (Special Powers) Act, 1958 in order to strike a balance between the powers of security forces and the human rights of citizens and to remove immunity for enforced disappearance, sexual violence and torture."In its section on Jammu & Kashmir, the manifesto referred to AFSPA again. "The Armed Forces (Special Powers) Act and the Disturbed Areas Act in J&K will be reviewed. Suitable changes will be made in the text of the laws to balance the requirements of security and the protection of human rights."The AFSPA Act is applicable in Jammu & Kashmir, Nagaland and Manipur and some parts of north-eastern states. According to The Disturbed Areas (Special Courts) Act, 1976, an area that is once declared 'disturbed' has to maintain the status quo for a minimum of three months.Under AFSPA, the armed forces are given powers to arrest, use force and even open fire on anyone who violate the law. Human rights activists wanted the act scrapped, claiming the law gives "sweeping powers" to forces to act against civilians. Activists have also alleged extra-judicial killings in those areas where AFSPA is in force.The Congress also promised to remove the law on sedition from the statute if voted to power. "Omit Section 124A of the Indian Penal Code(that defines the offence of ‘sedition’) that has been misused and, in any event, has become redundant because of subsequent laws," the manifesto said.The sedition law hit headlines in 2016 when Delhi's JNU Students Union president Kanhaiya Kumar was slapped with charges over allegations that he supported 'anti-India' slogans in campus.