ULFA's pro-talks faction signs peace accord with Centre, Assam government New Delhi/Guwahati: Ensuring an era of peace and development, the Centre, Assam government have signed a historic tripartite agreement with pro-talk faction of United Liberation Front of Asom (ULFA) here on Friday.
Union Home Minister Amit Shah said it was a historic moment in respect of peace accord with the ULFA pro-talks faction. The ULFA pro-talks faction has settled for an agreement within the framework of the Constitution instead of a sovereign state they had wanted in the 1980s, after the ceasefire in 2011, is indeed a development, he said.
Amit Shah further said that nine numbers of peace accords and border agreements took place in the last five years under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi. "85 per cent area under Armed Forces (Special Powers) Act have been withdrawn from Assam. The peace agreement will bring huge developmental packages and projects for Assam and assured 100 per cent implementation of the accord with ULFA in a time-bound manner," Shah added.
"Government has always shown its willingness to enter into a dialogue with a group that is willing to abjure the path of violence and place its demands within the framework of the Constitution," Shah said.
Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma said that today's agreement will usher in lasting peace, progress and prosperity in Assam. The Chief Minister said the accord will bring about whopping developmental package to Assam to the tune of 1.5 lakh crore. "It will also give political security and constitutional safeguards to the people of Assam by way of delimitation for indigenous people and land rights," said Sarma.
With this accord around 8,200 militants, including 726 cadres today belonging to the ULFA have come over-ground and joined the national mainstream. A host of long-standing political, economic and social issues concerning Assam, besides providing cultural safeguards and land rights to the indigenous people have been incorporated in the accord.
Besides, the 16-member delegation led by ULFA Chairman, Arabinda Rajkhowa, representatives from 13 civil society groups were also present. The hardline faction of the ULFA, led by Paresh Baruah, is not a party to the agreement as he has rejected the olive branch extended by the government. Two top brass of the Rajkhowa group -- Anup Chetia and Sashadhar Choudhary -- have been in the national capital since last week giving the final touches to the peace agreement along with government interlocutors that included Director of the Intelligence Bureau Tapan Deka and the government's advisor on the Northeast Affairs A K Mishra.
The Rajkhowa-led ULFA faction had begun unconditional talks with the Centre in 2011, despite stiff opposition from hardline faction led by Paresh Baruah, who is believed to be hiding at a place along the China-Myanmar border. Formed on April 7, 1979 with the demand for a "sovereign Assam", the outfit has been involved in subversive activities that eventually led to its banning by the Centre in 1990. The Rajkhowa faction joined the peace process with the government on September 3, 2011 after an agreement for Suspension of Operations (SoO) was signed between the ULFA, Central and state governments.
Meanwhile, Prime Minister Narendra Modi in a post on X, formerly known as Twitter said, "Today marks a significant milestone in Assam's journey towards peace and development. This agreement, paves the way for lasting progress in Assam. I commend the efforts of all involved in this landmark achievement. Together, we move towards a future of unity, growth, and prosperity for all."
