Assam Chief Minister Sarbananda Sonowal called upon United Liberation Front of Assam (Independent) chief Paresh Baruah to join the peace talks with the government, while also seeking support from all sections of the society in establishing peace in the state and hailed the Bodo insurgent outfits who laid down their arms recently.
The CM made the call to ULFA (I) chief while addressing the ceremonial function of 18th Bodoland Day celebration at Kokrajhar district in Bodoland Territorial Council (BTC) on February 10.
Sonowal said his government set the goal for an insurgency free Assam at the time of taking over charge of the state.
He termed the recently signed third Bodo Peace Accord as a historic step in this direction and said this would not only help in fulfilling the aspirations of Bodo people but also the communities who have been living in the BTC.
Paying tribute to Bodofa Upendra Nath Brahma, Sonowal said the Bodo people set an example with the peace accord which has enthralled and inspired all the Indians.
The chief minister thanked Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Union Home Minister Amit Shah, Finance Minister of Assam Himanta Biswa Sarma and BTC Chief Hagrama Mahilary along with all the insurgent outfits that have signed the agreement for bringing peace in the region.
Dispelling all apprehensions that the peace accord would hamper the interests of other communities, he urged the people not to panic and clarified that along with the Bodos all the communities living in BTC would get equal dignity and opportunity.
Sonowal also informed that in view of a memorandum submitted by All Assam Santhal Students’ Union, the Assam government has decided to consider the people who remain missing till date as a result of the conflict that took place in between 1994 and 1998 as dead and to provide ex-gratia as per rule.
