Comprehensive Bodo Peace Accord Clinched

The government on Monday signed a “historic” peace accord with all four factions of the National Democratic Front of Bodoland (NDFB), a Bodo insurgent organisation that has been leading an armed struggle in Assam, with the aim to bring “permanent peace” in Bododominated areas of the state.

- Sana Shakil

The pact, described by Union Home Minister Amit Shah as a “golden document”, also promised to provide a slew of economic activities for the tribals. “All demands of Assam’s division are over now,” Shah said, adding the agreement involved all stakeholders, unlike in the past when three groups were left out.

Shah said the Centre would take a sympathetic view at those who took up arms for a statehood movement.

The Assam government would soon notify Bodo language in the Devanagari script as an associate official language of the state.

Besides the NDFB factions, the other signatories are the All Bodo Students’ Union, which has been spearheading a movement for a separate Bodoland state since 1972, the United Bodo People’s Organisation, the Centre and the Assam government.