ULFA signs peace deal with Centre and Assam Govt, Amit Shah says ‘historic’

Minister Amit Shah said that the agreement will usher in a new era of peace in Assam.

The United Liberation Front of Assam (ULFA) today signed a historic tripartite peace agreement with the Centre and the Government of Assam in New Delhi in the presence of Union Home Minister Amit Shah, Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma, Union Home Secretary Ajay Bhalla, Assam DGP GP Singh and other senior officials.

ULFA president Arabinda Rajkhowa, general secretary Anup Chetia, ULFA deputy commander-in-chief Raju Baruah, ULFA foreign secretary Sasadhar Choudhury and other senior leaders of ULFA were among the 16 ULFA leaders present at the signing ceremony.

Home Minister Amit Shah expressed hope that the agreement will usher in a new era of peace in Assam.

“This agreement is the start of a new era of peace in the Northeast, specially in Assam. I would like to assure the members of ULFA that the Home Ministry will work to fulfil their wishes in a time-bound manner, a committee will also be formed for that regard” Shah said after the signing of the agreement.

Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma said, “This is a historic day for Assam. The process for peace has been on in Assam under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the guidance of Home Minister Amit Shah. We did accord with Bodo, Karbi, and Adivasi insurgent group.This agreement will fulfill many of the aspirations of the people of Assam. In general, PM Modi’s outreach towards Assam and other parts of the northeast has made this possible.”

The ULFA leadership is optimistic that the peace accord will be in the interest of the people of Assam and will resolve a long-standing issue.

Notably, the peace talks between ULFA and Government of India had begun in 2011. The Centre had sent a draft of the proposed agreement to the ULFA in April this year and another round of discussions were held in New Delhi in August. In October, ULFA general secretary Anup Chetia had said that they had sent their suggestions regarding the draft proposals to the Centre.

 ULFA was formed on April 7, 1979, at the Rang Ghar in Sibsagar to establish a “sovereign socialist Assam” through an armed struggle. Later the outfit split and the pro-talk faction began discussions with Centre in 2011.

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