Union Home Minister Amit Shah Signs Landmark Peace Accord With Bodo Militant Group NDFB

The Government of India on Monday signed a landmark tripartite accord with representatives of all factions of banned organisation National Democratic Front of Bodoland (NDFB). Union Home Minister Amit Shah and Assam Chief Minister Sarbananda Sonowal were present during the signing ceremony. “Today Centre, Assam government and Bodo representatives have signed an important agreement. This agreement will ensure a golden future for Assam and for the Bodo people,” Shah said after the peace accord was signed at the Home Ministry office in North Block.”1550 cadres along with 130 weapons will surrender on 30th January. As the Home Minister, I want to assure all representatives that all promises will be fulfilled in a time-bound manner,” Shah further said.

What Bodo accord says?

This accord will pave the path for development of both Assam and Bodo region, Shah said. According to the peace pact, the Centre will grant Rs 1,500 crore to the region, which will be spread in the three-year period. Special attempts will be made to safeguard language, culture and land rights in the region. Those who will surrender will be rehabilitated accordingly. Families of those killed in Bodo movement will get relief of Rs 5 lakh each. “All stakeholders of Bodo society has signed this agreement, reaffirming the territorial integrity of Assam,” Assam Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma said. The four factions of the NDFB, which signed the pact, were led by Ranjan Daimari, Govinda Basumatary, Dhiren Boro and B Saoraigra.

The accord marks the end of three-decade long movement. Bodos are the single largest tribal community in Assam. It was in 1960s that the demand for separate Bodoland was raised. Two decades later, the All Bodo Students Union (ABSU) renewed the demand in 1987.

A look back at peace deal of 1993

The first Bodo accord was signed with the All Bodo Students Union (ABSU) in 1993, leading to creation of a Bodoland Autonomous Council with limited political powers.

In 2003, the second Bodo accord was signed with the militant group Bodo Liberation Tigers (BLT), leading to formation of a Bodoland Territorial Council (BTC) with four districts of Assam -- Kokrajhar, Chirang, Baska and Udalguri -- called the Bodoland Territorial Area District (BTAD).

The BTC has control over 30 subjects like education, forests, horticulture but no jurisdiction on the police, revenue and general administration departments, which are controlled by the Assam government. The BTC was formed under the 6th Schedule of the Constitution.