Assam Separatist Group ULFA Signs Historic Peace Deal With Centre and Assam Govt

Guwahati: Assam witnessed a momentous occasion on Friday as the pro-talks faction of the United Liberation Front of Assam (ULFA) inked a historic Memorandum of Settlement (MoS) with the Indian government and the Assam state government, marking a pivotal turning point in the region’s history. This landmark agreement, signed in the presence of Union Home Minister Amit Shah and Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma, symbolically breaks the shackles of violence that have gripped the state for decades.

The ULFA, the oldest insurgent group in Assam, had long been a source of violence in the Northeast.

Expressing his satisfaction, Amit Shah remarked, “Today is a bright day for the future of Assam. For a long time, Assam and the Northeast faced violence.” He emphasized the significance of the ULFA’s commitment to the memorandum, signifying a new era of peace, particularly for Assam, a state that has borne the brunt of violence with over 10,000 casualties since 1979.

Amit Shah assured ULFA representatives of the government’s commitment, stating, “From the Ministry of Home Affairs’s side, a program will be made in a time-bound manner to fulfill everything, without you having to ask for it.” Additionally, he announced the formation of a committee under the Home Ministry to collaborate with the Assam government in implementing the agreements outlined in the memorandum.

Himanta Biswa Sarma echoed the sentiment, hailing the day as “historic” for Assam. He highlighted the success of integrating nearly 8,756 members of militant organizations into the mainstream during Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s tenure.

It is noteworthy that the ULFA, designated a terrorist organization and banned in India since 1990, had previously entered into a tripartite Suspension of Operations (SoO) agreement with the central government and the Assam government in 2011.