Stating that signing of Bodo accord will herald a new era of peace and development in the Northeastern region, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on February 7 appealed to the all insurgents, naxalite groups in the county to shun the path of violence and join the mainstream of the country.
Modi, addressing a sea of masses who had thronged the Jangkhritai Pwthar in Kokrajhar in Lower Assam to celebrate the signing of the 3rd Accord between the Government and Bodo organizations, said, “I appeal to all who believe in the power of gun, bombs to take lesson from the Bodo youths and shun violence and come out to join mainstream of the country and celebrate life”.
Talking about the Bodo Accord, Modi said “Today is the day for the entire Northeast, including Assam, to welcome a new beginning in the 21st century, a new dawn, a new inspiration”.
Spelling out the accord details Modi said “Under the accord, a commission will also be given to fix the boundary of the area falling within BTAD. This region will get a special development package of Rs 1,500 crore, which will largely benefit districts like Kokrajhar, Chirang, Baksa and Udalguri”.
The Prime Minister’s visit comes days after the Bodo Accord, the third such deal after two earlier ones in 1993 and 2003 was signed at New Delhi on January 27 with leaders of all four factions of National Democratic Front of Bodoland (NDFB), who were demanding a separate Bodoland state, taking part as signatories.
After the signing of the Accord, 1,615 cadres of the deposited 178 weapons including AK series rifle, M-16 rifle, 4803 rounds live ammunition, 14 grenades, one 2 inch mortar during an arms laying down ceremony held in Guwahati on January 30.
Continuing his tirade against Congress leader Rahul Gandhi’s stick comment, without naming him, saying people talk about beating him with sticks but he is blessed and protected by the blessing of sisters and mothers.
This is also Prime Minister Modi’s first visit since the state has been witnessing anti-Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA) protests.
Talking about CAA, Modi said, “I assure people of Assam CAA will not bring any outsider. There is lot of misinformation campaign going on by groups who are anti-Assam and anti-India”.
Modi said his government will very soon implement the clause 6 of the Assam Accord.
“As soon as we get the commission report we will implement clause 6 of the Assam accord. We won’t keep it hanging,” he said.
The Prime Minister also commended the motorcycle rally and the lighting of earthen lamps by Kokrajhar residents to celebrate the accord.
Modi also paid rich tributes to Bodo leadership and stated that this historic day has been enabled by the immense sacrifice of the martyrs who laid down their lives.
“Today is only a new day for Assam, but also for the entire Northeast. Today is a day to resolve that development and faith should be adopted and to shun violence,” Modi said, adding that the accord will bring long lasting peace in the region and not a single drop of blood should be spilled on the soil from now onwards.
