Home Minister P Chidambaram has said that the government is trying to evolve a consensus on withdrawing the Armed Forces Special Powers Act, AFSPA, in Manipur. Talking to reporters in New Delhi on Thursday, Mr Chidambaram said, a consensus needs to be built up within the government. Mr Chidambaram said, the UPA II government has expedited the process of clearing the mercy petitions of convicts facing death row as fast as possible. Mr Chidambaram said he recommended 23 cases and 13 of them have been decided. In response to a question, the Home Minister also said that the land acquisition process for strengthening coastal security has started at 60 places and fencing of India-Bangladesh border is in progress.