GG News Bureau
Guwahati, 26th Dec. The Centre is close to finalizing a peace agreement with the pro-talk faction of the United Liberation Front of Asom (ULFA). According to sources the pact is expected to be signed on December 29.
This is considered a significant achievement for the Narendra Modi-led central government in resolving the long-standing issue of insurgency in the northeast.
The final deal may include a financial package, a review of the citizenship list regarding illegal immigrants, new measures for land reservation, and rights for the indigenous communities of Assam.
Additionally, provisions for political, economic, and cultural safeguards for the indigenous communities will be included.
Top pro-talk ULFA leaders, Anup Chetia and Sashadhar Choudhury, are currently in Delhi to finalize the agreement with senior Home Ministry officials.
Last week, ULFA leaders were in the national capital while Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma was also present.
During his stay in Delhi, Mr. Sarma met with Tapan Kumar Deka, the Director of the Intelligence Bureau (IB), and Dinkar Gupta, the Director General of the National Investigation Agency (NIA).
AK Mishra, the former Special Director of IB and current advisor on northeast affairs, and the interlocutor for ULFA peace talks, also met with the Chief Minister.
The pro-talk faction of ULFA has submitted a 12-point charter of demands to the Centre.
Peace talks began in 2011, and the negotiations covered various areas such as a status report on missing ULFA leaders and cadres, general amnesty for pending cases, constitutional and political arrangements, protection of the identity and resources of the local indigenous population, financial and economic packages for Assam, settlement of royalties on mines and minerals, including oil, and rights for sustainable economic development in the future.
Another demand was addressing illegal migration, including border sealing, river patrolling, and the establishment of a native force to secure the borders.
It is important to note that the ULFA (Independent) faction, led by Paresh Baruah, is against peace talks and continues to operate from their hideout in the India-Myanmar border region.
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