Centre Signs Karbi Anglong Agreement, Amit Shah Says Govt Committed To Ensuring Territorial Integrity Of Assam

The agreement was signed in the presence of Union Home Minister Amit Shah and Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma.

Picture Courtesy – Twitter @AmitShah

New Delhi: The Centre signed a tripartite “Karbi Anglong Agreement” with a group of representatives of Karbi outfits in the national capital on Saturday.

The agreement was signed in the presence of Union Home Minister Amit Shah and Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma.

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A delegation of six Karbi group members that signed the agreement includes Karbi Longri North Cachar Hills Liberation Front, People's Democratic Council of Karbi Longri, United People's Liberations Army, Karbi People's Liberation Tigers (Ceasefire), Karbi People's Liberation Tigers (R) and Karbi People's Liberation Tigers (M), ANI reported.

Speaking on the occasion, the Home Minister said the Karbi Agreement is another milestone in Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s vision of “Insurgency free prosperous North East”.

He said the Karbi Anglong Agreement will be written in golden words in the history of Karbi region and Assam.

Shah said that since becoming the Prime Minister, northeast has not only been an area of focus for Narendra Modi, but all-round development of northeast, peace and prosperity there has been the Centre’s top priority.

"The signing of the Historic Karbi Anglong Agreement. Modi government is committed to resolving the decades-old crisis, ensuring the territorial integrity of Assam," he tweeted.

The Home Minister further said it is Modi government’s policy that those who give up arms are brought into mainstream.

“And we talk to them even more politely and give them more than they ask for,” he added.

Shah assured the Centre will fulfill all the conditions laid out in the agreement within the designated time frame, paving the way for long-lasting peace and development in Karbi Anglong region.

The Assam Chief Minister on his part called it a historic day for the people of Assam.

He said the agreement is a very big achievement and it will restore peace in the region.

Union Minister and former Assam chief minister Sarbananda Sonowal said the historic step will bring in permanent peace in the region and state. He added the region will move forward in the path of development.

Union Home Secretary Ajay Kumar Bhalla hoped the agreement will help further development of Karbi Anglong region.

With this historic agreement, over 1,000 armed cadres have abjured violence and joined the mainstream of society.

A Special Development Package of Rs. 1000 crores over five years will be given by the Centre and Assam government to undertake specific projects for the development of Karbi areas.