The United Liberation Front of Asom (Ulfa) pro-talks faction, led by Arabinda Rajkhowa, signed a memorandum of settlement with the Assam government and the Centre in the presence of Home Minister Amit Shah. Shah disclosed that representatives of the outfit have committed to renounce violence, hand up all weapons, dissolve the armed organisation, leave camps that house armed cadres, and integrate into society.
Stating that it was a “golden day for the future of Assam”, Shah said his ministry, as part of PM Modi’s vision to free the northeast from “extremism, violence and conflict”, has been making sustained efforts to talk to all armed groups in the region with an open mind. “In the last five years, we have signed nine pacts to make peace with insurgent outfits across various northeastern states and to end inter-state border disputes. This has established peace in a large part of the northeast,” he said, pointing to the 87% decline in violent incidents, 90% dip in fatalities and removal of AFSPA from 85% of Assam since 2014.
“With the signing of the tripartite memorandum of settlement with Ulfa, peace talks with all armed groups of Assam have reached a logical conclusion,” said Shah. He shared that around 750 cadres of Ulfa surrendered, taking the total surrenders in Assam so far to 8,200.
Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma, a 16-member Ulfa delegation led by Rajkhowa, and members from 13 civil society organisations attended the signing ceremony at the home ministry's North Block office.