GUWAHATI: The Centre and the Assam government signed a tripartite Memorandum of Settlement with ULFA on December 29, 2023, in New Delhi.
The signing ceremony took place at North Block in the presence of Union Home Minister Amit Shah, Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma and 16 leaders of the pro-talks faction of the ULFA.
“This will bring lasting peace in Assam. I apologise for any wrongdoing from our side,” an ULFA representative said as per reports.
Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma while addressing the media said, “A historic day for Assam. 8,700 cadres of militant organisations have joined peace accord. With three accords, tribal Militancy over. Everyone has joined mainstream. ULFA picked up arms, many were killed in 1980s, around 10,000 people were killed which included security personnel, civilians and also ULFA.”
Union Home Minister Amit Shah while addressing the content said, “It is a golden day for Assam’s future. Assam and North East endured violence for decades. Nine peace accords in the past five years in North East. Peace established in northeast. More than 9,000 cadres surrendered, AFSPA has been removed from 85% area in Assam.”
“Since 1979 all those who were killed were country’s citizens. A package and development projects have been agreed upon today. All the aspects of the settlement will be implemented today with surrender of 700 cadres, the total number of surrendered cadre will stand at 8,200 cadres,” media quoted Shah saying.
The ULFA was born during the Assam Agitation of 1979 demanding a sovereign State for the Assamese people.The settlement is likely to take care of a host of long-standing political, economic and social issues concerning Assam, besides providing cultural safeguards and land rights to the indigenous people.
