Important step towards permanent peace in Assam, peace agreement with ULFA today
Assam: To establish permanent peace in the entire North-East India and especially in Assam, the process of integrating their armed cadres into the mainstream by entering into agreements with extremist organizations is going on. In this sequence, a peace agreement will be signed with the Rajkhowa faction of ULFA on Friday. As a result, various types of violence have been reduced by approximately three-fourths.
To establish permanent peace in the entire North-East India and especially in Assam, the process of integrating their armed cadres into the mainstream by entering into agreements with militant organizations is going on. In this sequence, a peace agreement will be signed with the Rajkhowa faction of ULFA on Friday.
The agreement will be signed in the presence of Union Home Minister Amit Shah, Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma as well as about a dozen top ULFA leaders.
In the last four years, peace agreements have been signed with tribal militant groups, Bodo militant groups, and Karbi and Dimasa groups in Assam itself. According to highly placed sources, the peace agreement covers several political and economic issues along with securing the land rights of Assam's culture and indigenous people. Top ULFA (Rajkhowa faction) leaders Anup Chetia and Sashadhar Chaudhary are in Delhi for the last week to finalize the agreement.
The decision to sign the agreement was taken on Friday after several rounds of talks with chief negotiator AK Mishra and Intelligence Bureau director Tapan Deka. The radical faction of ULFA led by Paresh Baruah is not included in the agreement.
It is believed that Barua is hiding somewhere near the China-Myanmar border. The ULFA faction led by Rajkhowa had announced talks for complete peace in 2011 by agreeing to suspension of operations. After long negotiations lasting 12 years, the three parties could agree on the peace format.
After the arrival of the Modi government and especially after Amit Shah became the Home Minister, the process of establishing permanent peace by resolving the long-running conflict in various parts of North-East India has accelerated. As a result, various types of violence have been reduced by approximately three-fourths.
Large areas have been freed from AFSPA after more than 8900 armed cadres associated with militant groups surrendered and returned to the mainstream. The objective of the Modi government is to bring peace and security in the Northeastern states as well as to connect people with the mainstream of development so that people can be linked to self-reliance and employment opportunities. This will bring positive changes in the lives of people.
