Assam Govt Invites PM Modi & Amit Shah to Kokrajhar to Celebrate Signing of 'Accord'

Guwahati, January 28, 2020:

The Government of Assam has invited Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union Minister Amit Shah to Kokrajhar town in the Bodoland Territorial area to celebrate inking of the the Bodo peace accord, a pact that Prime Minister Modi has termed as "historic."

This was informed earlier today by Assam Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma, who said that Mr Modi and Mr Shah have been invited to Kokrajhar on February 7 next.

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It may be mentioned here that a tripartite accord signed on Monday between the Centre, Assam government and Bodo representatives, including all factions of the National Democratic Front of Bodoland that has waged a violent struggle, holds out prospects for peace with all sides reaffirming faith in Assam’s territorial integrity.

The pact, described as “historic” by PM Narendra Modi, provides for setting up of a commission to reconstitute the Bodo Territorial Areas District by including new Bodo dominated villages contiguous to the existing BTAD area and excluding villages with a predominantly non-tribal population. BTAD will be rechristened as Bodo Territorial Region. Bodo language will be notified as an associate official language in Assam.

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Over 1,500 NDFB cadres will surrender arms coinciding with Mahatma Gandhi’s death anniversary on January 30 and disband their armed organisations within the next one month.

A Rs 5-lakh compensation is being offered to the kin of Bodo rebels martyred in their violent struggle. The surrendered cadres too will get a rehabilitation package. This is the third Bodo agreement to date, but seen as viable due to armed factions agreeing to be party to the settlement.

Cases against NDFB cadres involving non-heinous crimes will be withdrawn by the Assam government, while cases involving more serious offences will be reviewed on a case-to-case basis. The total number of assembly seats in BTC will go up to 60 from 40, though this will be relevant only from 2026 assembly polls.

It has been agreed that a Rs 1,500 crore economic package shall be released over the next three years for Bodo areas, with the Centre and Assam government contributing equal measure.

Signatories to the accord — signed in the presence of home minister Amit Shah, Assam CM Sarbananda Sonowal and minister Himanta Biswa Sarma— included Bodo Territorial Council chief executive member Hagrama Mohilary, representatives of All Bodo Students’ Union, United Boro People Organisation and leaders of NDFB factions headed by Gobinda Basumatary, Dhirendra Boro, Ranjan Daimary and B Saoraigwra.

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