New Delhi, Dec 29: In a momentous event graced by the presence of Union Home Minister and Minister of Cooperation Amit Shah, a Memorandum of Settlement (MoU) was signed today between the Government of India, the Government of Assam, and representatives of the United Liberation Front of Assam (ULFA).
This significant agreement marks a major stride towards realizing Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s vision for a tranquil, prosperous, and insurgency-free Northeast, fostering everlasting peace, prosperity, and comprehensive development in Assam.
The ceremony, held in New Delhi, was attended by Assam Chief Minister Dr. Himanta Biswa Sarma, along with senior officials from the Ministry of Home Affairs and the Government of Assam.
Speaking on the occasion, Shri Amit Shah declared the day as a golden one for Assam, heralding the establishment of peace in the Northeastern region, which has borne the brunt of violence for an extended period. He emphasized the efforts made since Prime Minister Modi assumed office in 2014, underscoring the commitment to bridge the gap between Delhi and the Northeast through open-minded dialogue.
Under the visionary guidance of Prime Minister Modi, the Ministry of Home Affairs has diligently worked towards realizing a Northeast free from extremism, violence, and conflict. Shah highlighted that over the last five years, nine peace and border-related agreements have been successfully inked with different Northeastern states, contributing to the establishment of peace in a significant part of the region.
The Union Home Minister revealed that more than 9000 cadres have officially surrendered, and the Armed Forces Special Powers Act (AFSPA) has been lifted from 85 percent of Assam. With the signing of today’s tripartite agreement, the Modi government attains success in eliminating all violent groups in Assam. Shah outlined the pivotal elements of the agreement, including ULFA’s commitment to renounce violence, surrender all arms and ammunition, disband their armed organization, vacate occupied camps, engage in peaceful democratic processes, and uphold the integrity of the nation.
Acknowledging the gravity of the ULFA conflict, Amit Shah stated that around 10 thousand people from both sides lost their lives in the strife, and today’s agreement marks the comprehensive resolution of this longstanding issue. He announced a substantial package and numerous development projects for Assam, underscoring the Modi government’s commitment to fulfilling all provisions of the agreement.
Highlighting the positive impact of the Modi government’s initiatives since 2014, Shah noted an 87% decrease in violent incidents, a 90% reduction in deaths, and an 84% decline in kidnappings in Assam. The Union Home Minister pointed out that over 7500 cadres have surrendered in Assam alone, with an additional 750 expected to join, marking the beginning of a new era of peace.
Amit Shah listed previous agreements signed by the Modi government, including those with NLFT in 2019, Bru and Bodo in 2020, Karbi in 2021, Adivasi in 2022, Assam-Meghalaya border, Assam-Arunachal border, and UNLF in 2023. He concluded by asserting that the agreement with ULFA today ushers in a new era of peace for the entire Northeast, attributing the success to Prime Minister Modi’s broader vision of an insurgency-free region.
The Union Home Minister announced that the Ministry of Home Affairs, Government of India, will formulate a time-bound program to fulfill ULFA’s demands, and a monitoring committee will be established for this purpose. He emphasised that the Modi government, through its proactive approach, has consistently surpassed timelines in fulfilling the conditions of agreements, crediting this success to Prime Minister Modi’s visionary stance.
