Assam CM Srabananda Sonowal during the arms laying ceremony of NDF Bodoland in Guwahati.
As a follow up of Bodo agreement, more than 1600 Bodo cadres today surrendered before Assam Chief Minister Sarbananda Sonowal and Finance Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma on Thursday at 11 a.m. at Guwahati Medical College Auditorium in Assam. The NDFB factions had signed the peace treaty with the government on Monday (January 27). The agreement, as part of which Centre will provide a Rs 1,500-crore-assistance-package over the next three years for the development of Bodo areas.
A total of 1615 members from all factions of Bodo militant organisation NDFB today laid down their arms. Among these, 836 members from NDFB (P), 579 from NDFB (RD) and 200 members of NDFB (S) laid down guns. "Bodos are very hard working and brave. I welcome all the members of Bodo militant groups to the mainstream society and urge them to work for all round development of BTC and Assam. Development of the Bodos is development of Assam" Chief Minister Sarbananda Sonowal said while attending the arms laying down ceremony of members of all factions of NDFB militant organisation at GMCH auditorium.
Saying that the accord between the Bodo groups and the Central and State Governments would further strengthen the unity and integrity of Assam, Sonowal said that peace is a must for bringing development to the state and the region. In this regard, the Chief Minister highlighted the roles played by Prime Minister Modi and Union Home Minister Amit Shah to bring permanent peace to the region and usher in development.
Here are some other salient features of the new Bodo deal:
1. A commission under Section 14 of the Sixth Schedule to the Constitution of India will be set-up, which will recommend the inclusion or exclusion of tribal population residing in villages adjoining BTAD areas
2. The Bodoland Territorial Council (BTC) will be given additional teeth, which is a step towards increasing its autonomy
3. There are provisions for the quick development of tribal areas and rehabilitation of members of NDFB and its factions
The signing of the agreement was also witnessed by Assam’s chief minister Sarbananda Sonowal, Assam minister Himanta Biswa Sarma, Chief Executive Member of BTC Hagrama Mohilary, representatives of Bodoland Territorial Council (BTC), All Bodo Students Union (ABSU), United Boro People Organization (UBPO), National Democratic Front of Bodoland (NDFB) factions – Gobinda Basumatary, Dhirendra Boro, Ranjan Daimary, B Saoraigwra, along with senior officers from Union Ministry of Home Affairs and the Government of Assam.
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