In a major impetus for the ruling BJP, the United Liberation Front of Assam (ULFA)’s pro-talks faction
today signed a tripartite Memorandum of Settlement with the Centre and the Assam government. The
memorandum was signed in the presence of the Union Home Minister, Amit Shah. The ULFA pro-talks
faction was represented by its chairperson Arabinda Rajkhowa who led a 16-member delegation. Assam
Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma was also present on the occasion.
Home Minister Lauds “Golden Day For The People Of Assam”
The Home Minister termed it as a “golden day for the people of Assam”. Amit Shah said the state has
suffered for a long time from violence by ULFA. Around 10,000 people have lost their lives since 1979.
He announced that a major development package would be given to Assam under the agreement with
ULFA and assured that the accord will be implemented completely.
“It is a matter of great joy for me that today is a golden day for Assam’s future. Assam has suffered from
violence for a long time. Since Narendra Modi became the Prime Minister, efforts were made to shorten
the gap between Delhi and the Northeast. In the last five years, nine peace and border-related
agreements have been signed across the Northeast, because of which peace has been established in
major portion of the region,” he said.
He added that the ULFA has agreed to give up violence and disband the organisation.
Two top leaders of the Rajkhowa group have been in the National Capital since last week. According to
reliable sources, the outfit’s general secretary, Anup Chetia, held talks with peace interlocutor A K
Mishra on Tuesday. A K Mishra is the government’s adviser on Northeast affairs. He was accompanied
by Intelligence Bureau’s Director Tapan Deka who was also a part of the talks with the group.
The pro-talks faction of ULFA, a separatist outfit, was founded in 1979 by a group of 20 youngsters from
Upper Assam districts. The separatist organization sought to establish an independent sovereign nation-state of Assam for the indigenous Assamese people through armed struggle. The group had expressed
willingness for talks on several occasions but had been firm on its stand on ‘sovereignty’.
Following today’s signing of the memorandum, ULFA has agreed to abandon violence.
BJP Stresses Efforts Are Being Made To Ensure Peace In NE
During the Assembly election campaigns in Tripura, Meghalaya, and Nagaland earlier this year,
the BJP stressed the decline in militancy and the return of relative peace in the Northeast after the
Narendra Modi’s government assumed power in 2014.
Last month, Amit Shah announced the signing of a peace agreement with the United National Liberation
Front (UNLF) in Manipur, a Meitei separatist group. Now, with today’s signing of the ULFA accord, the
party’s narrative is poised to get a further boost.
Bengali