• Assam, Centre ink historic tripartite peace accord with ULFA pro-talks faction

    National
    Assam, Centre ink historic tripartite peace accord with ULFA pro-talks faction
    The accord, born out of extensive negotiations, aims to quell the decades-long insurgency plaguing Assam...

    Digital Desk: In a historic stride toward enduring peace, the pro-talks faction of the United Liberation Front of Asom (ULFA) sealed a momentous tripartite peace accord with the central and Assam governments on Friday. The ceremony, attended by Union Home Minister Amit Shah and Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma, signifies the commencement of a transformative era for the northeastern state.

    The accord, born out of extensive negotiations, aims to quell the decades-long insurgency plaguing Assam. Encompassing political, economic, and societal dimensions, the agreement stands as a comprehensive effort to cultivate lasting stability in the region.

    Notably absent from the agreement was the hardline faction of ULFA, led by Paresh Baruah, who adamantly rejected the government's extended olive branch. Baruah, believed to be situated along the China-Myanmar border, remains a vocal opponent of the peace talks.

    The pro-talks faction, guided by Arabinda Rajkhowa, initiated unconditional discussions with the central government in 2011, overcoming staunch resistance from the Baruah-led hardline faction. Established in 1979 with an initial demand for a "sovereign Assam," ULFA had evolved into a focal point of insurgency, prompting the central government to outlaw it in 1990. This groundbreaking accord marks a pivotal step toward resolving the protracted conflict and fostering a harmonious future for Assam.