News Reporter
Home Minister Amit Shah assures fulfillment of ULFA's reasonable demands and emphasizes the disbandment of the organization.
New Delhi, 29 December, 2023: In a groundbreaking development, the Central government, in collaboration with the Assam state administration and the United Liberation Front of Asom (ULFA), has orchestrated a historic peace accord in Delhi. This monumental agreement signifies the resolution of a protracted conflict involving one of the largest insurgent groups in the northeastern region.
The accord, meticulously crafted to address pivotal issues such as illegal immigration, land rights for indigenous communities, and a sweeping financial package for Assam's development, was formally unveiled in the presence of Home Minister Amit Shah and Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma.
While the ULFA (Independent) faction, under the leadership of Paresh Baruah, remains steadfast in its resistance to dialogue, the peace agreement represents a substantial stride toward fostering stability and addressing entrenched socio-political concerns in Assam. Home Minister Amit Shah, addressing the media in Delhi, emphatically reassured that the Centre is unwavering in its commitment to expeditiously fulfilling all reasonable demands outlined by ULFA and confirmed the dissolution of ULFA as an organization.
"We want to assure the ULFA leadership that their trust in the Centre to ensure the success of the peace process will be honored," declared Mr. Shah, crediting Prime Minister Narendra Modi's steadfast dedication to establishing enduring peace and stability in the northeast.
Mr. Shah underscored the removal of the Armed Forces (Special) Powers Act (AFSPA) from various areas in Assam and neighboring states as compelling evidence of the dwindling insurgency in the region. Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma, echoing Mr. Shah's sentiments, expressed profound confidence that the peace deal with ULFA would play a pivotal role in substantially resolving insurgency-related challenges.
The Modi government's proactive engagement in signing peace agreements with insurgent groups in the northeast, encouraging them to lay down their arms, is emblematic of a strategic pursuit of lasting peace. In November, Manipur's oldest valley-based armed group, the UNLF, entered into a tripartite peace agreement with the Centre and the state government.
Founded on April 7, 1979, in Sivasagar, Assam, ULFA's journey began with the audacious goal of establishing an independent sovereign state for indigenous Assamese people. Evolving from advocating for the underprivileged to engaging in armed operations against the Indian government, ULFA's trajectory now reaches a historic juncture. The peace accord is poised to reshape Assam's future, marking not only the end of tribal militancy in the region but a promising new chapter in its socio-political landscape.