Bodo Peace Accord brought lasting peace to Assam: ABSU president

The implementation of the Bodo Peace Accord 2020 has brought peace to Assam over the last five years, said Dipen Boro, President of the All Bodo Students Union (ABSU). He emphasised that the historic agreement has led to the disarmament of all militant groups and their integration into the mainstream.
 

Speaking to ANI on Saturday, Boro said the agreement marked a new chapter of peace and development in the Bodoland region.

He noted that the Union Government has successfully implemented the main provisions of the accord in the last five years, although some components of the agreement remain pending.

"Peace came after the accord. All groups laid down their arms and joined the mainstream. The Government of India had promised to implement the main provisions of the accord in 5 years; it was implemented successfully. Some provisions are still there, and it is the Prime Minister's and Home Minister's commitment that it will be implemented in a time-bound manner," Boro said.

On January 27, 2020, the central government signed a tripartite agreement with representatives of all factions of the banned National Democratic Front of Bodoland (NDFB) at the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) in the national capital.

The Bodo groups have been demanding a separate state of Bodoland for the last 50 years. The movement has resulted in extensive violence and the loss of hundreds of lives over the years.

In 1993, the Bodoland Autonomous Council was formed through an agreement with the Union government, but it could not stop the violence initiated by various Bodo militant groups. In 2003, an extensive agreement was worked out with the Bodo Liberation Tigers, which led to the creation of the Bodoland Territorial Council (BTC) and Bodoland Territorial Area Districts with four districts.

Earlier this year, speaking at a public meeting on the occasion of the fifth anniversary of the Bodo Peace Accord, Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma acknowledged the signing of the Bodo Peace Accords in 1993, 2003, and 2020, emphasising that the third Accord marked a new era of peace in the region.
 

He noted the rich history and vibrant cultural heritage of the Bodo community, highlighting that these have greatly enriched our state's history.

Assam Chief Minister mentioned the central government's plan to introduce the 125th Amendment to the Constitution to implement the Accord fully and further asserted that the region has moved beyond its history of unrest, with current discussions now focused on road construction, educational institutions, and other developmental initiatives.