Union Home Minister Amit Shah on January 27 said that the peace accord signed by all Bodo factions of Assam will usher a new era of peace and development in Assam.
For establishing long lasting peace in Northeast, the Centre on January 27 signed a tripartite agreement with all factions of banned National Democratic Front of Bodoland (NDFB) in New Delhi at Union Home Ministry.
Speaking to the journalists after the signing of peace accord, Shah said that around 2900 persons were killed in Assam during the Bodoland movement where as 939 security forces also laid their lives in maintaining the law and order. This agreement will pave ways for peace and development in Assam, he said.
“This accord is a step forward of 2003 agreement and that happened under the guidance of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and this will lead to all round development of Assam from the era of militancy and disturbance”, Shah said.
He also assured all factions of National Democratic Front of Bodoland (NDFB) as union home minister that he would ensure the implementations of peace accord within a stipulated time frame.
Announcing the financial package under this agreement, the home minister said that Rs 1,500 crore will be spent for the all round developments of the Bodo peole and more powers to Bodoland Territorial Council (BTC) and the Centre will also take steps for the welfare of the people residing outside of the BTC or Territorial Area Districts (BTAD).
“The Centre will constitute a monitoring committee to preserve the social, cultural and linguistic identities of the Bodo people and the rights of the tribal people”, he further said.
“Rs five lakh will be given to the families of those who laid their lives in persons who were killed during Bodoland movement, creation of a post of a DIG for BTAD and the setting up of a culture Centre at Kokarajhar in the name of Upendra Nath Brahma,” the home minister said.
Shah said, 1,550 cadres along with 130 weapons will surrender on January 30 and said “As the home minister, I want to assure all representatives that all promises will be fulfilled in a time-bound manner”.
After the signing agreement event, the Assam finance minister and Northeast Democratic Alliance chairman Hemanta Biswa Sarma said that a commission will be constituted to identify the villages where Bodo people are not in majority and they will be allowed to move out of BTAD and the seats in the BTC will increase from 40 to 60 once the Commission will give its report.
The upcoming election will be held on 40 seats only, he clarified.
He also said that six more power like rural electrification, forest and protection of wild life will be given to BTC and the state government will take the consent of the BTC while posting a District Magistrate and Superintendent of Police in BTAD areas.
