ULFA faction signs peace agreement, Amit Shah hails it as a golden day for Assam

Shah said Assam has suffered for a long time due to the ULFA violence and around 10,000 people have lost their lives since 1979.

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… https://t.co/Y8sqPr1KPJ

— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) December 29, 2023

“Today is a golden day for Assam when peace is going to be established in the North-East and Assam, which have been bearing the brunt of violence for a long time. After Narendra Modi became the Prime Minister in 2014, efforts were made to bridge the gap between Delhi and the North-East and talks with everyone started with an open mind. Under the guidance of Prime Minister Modi, the Ministry of Home Affairs worked with the vision of a North-East free from extremism, violence and conflict,” he said.

“In the last five years, nine peace and border-related agreements have been signed with different states in the North-East, and these have established peace in a large part of the North-East,” he said. More than 9,000 cadres have surrendered and the Armed Forces (Special Powers) Act (AFSPA) has been lifted from 85 per cent of Assam, he said.

“Due to the tripartite agreement being signed today between the Central government, the Assam government and ULFA, the Modi government has achieved success in eliminating all the violent groups in Assam. Today’s agreement is very important for peace in Assam and the entire North-East. Under today’s agreement, ULFA representatives have agreed to abjure the path of violence, lay down all their arms and ammunition and disband their armed organisation,” he said.

A historic day for Assam.

Fulfilling PM @narendramodi Ji’s vision for a prosperous, peaceful and developed Northeast, today we have arrived at a landmark resolution to the ULFA insurgency problem of Assam.

The Government of India and the Government of Assam have signed a… pic.twitter.com/bWVOnEKOdo

— Amit Shah (@AmitShah) December 29, 2023

The ULFA, Shah said, has also agreed to vacate all camps occupied by its armed cadres, engage in the peaceful democratic process established by law and maintain the integrity of the country.

“In the ULFA conflict, around 10,000 people from both sides were killed, who were citizens of this country, but today this problem is being completely resolved. The Centre has agreed to provide a huge package and several big projects for all-round development of Assam. The Modi government will comply with all provisions of the agreement,” he said.

After the formation of the Modi government in 2014, violent incidents in Assam decreased by 87 per cent, deaths by 90 per cent and kidnappings by 84 per cent, he said.

“So far, 7,500 cadres have surrendered in Assam alone, which will have an addition of 750 more today. The surrender of over 8,200 cadres in Assam alone is the beginning of a new era of peace,” he said, adding that Modi government has signed the NLFT agreement in 2019, Bru and Bodo pacts in 2020, Karbi in 2021, Adivasi agreement in 2022, Assam-Meghalaya border agreement, Assam-Arunachal border agreement and the agreement with UNLF in 2023.

“This is a new start of a period of peace for the whole North-East, especially Assam. I want to assure ULFA representatives that the faith you have kept in Centre, from the side of MHA, a programme will be made in a time-bound manner to fulfil everything, without you asking for it. Under the MHA, a committee will be formed, which will work with the Assam government to fulfil this agreement,” Shah said.

Chief Minister Sarma described the accord as historic and said it has fructified due to the guidance and leadership of Modi and Shah.

“These were the people who formed the ULFA, except for one individual who is now leading the anti-talk faction of ULFA. All the founding members of ULFA are here today. These people came to Delhi in 1993 also when Prime Minister P V Narasimha Rao was there. Initial discussions took place, but it could not be taken to a logical conclusion. So after 1993 today, they have visited North Block again, and they have signed the accord,” he said.

“They have assured us that ULFA will be disbanded. They are now living in camps, so they will disband the camps, they will deposit their arms, 726 cadres will be in the mainstream and they will rescue themselves from all activities that are not as per law,” Sarma told reporters.

“The point of agreement is that delimitation was carried out in Assam recently, and out of 126, we have secured 97 seats for the indigenous people. So this principle will continue even in the next delimitation. The insecurity that was there among the people politically has been resolved. Even for other issues, a solution has been put in the accord itself,” he said.

“Besides, there is a demand across Assam to redo the NRC because in the last NRC there were various factors for which we could not do it properly. Now, a review petition is pending before the Supreme Court. As the matter is before the apex court, we have not mentioned that… except the reference that after the SC verdict, the Central government will take up the matter afresh. So there is a reference to NRC but no conclusion could be drawn in this accord because the matter is pending in the SC,” he said.