'New Dawn Of Peace': PM Modi Hails Bodo Accord In Assam Rally; Bats For Citizenship Act

Hitting out at previous governments, PM Modi said that insurgency in the region had been raging on for decades and had claimed thousands of lives, but past governments were reluctant in addressing the problems.

PM Modi addresses a public rally during an event to celebrate the signing of the Bodo agreement, in Kokrajhar. (Image: PTI)

Kokrajhar: Addressing his first rally in Assam after the Parliament passed the contentious Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA) last year, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday said that it was because of people's support that the Bodo peace accord was signed, heralding a new dawn of peace in the state. While speaking at a  public rally in Kokrajhar, he said that now the time was to work together for peace and development of the North- East.  The massive rally was organised to celebrate the signing of the accord on January 27 that is expected to bring lasting peace to the troubled state. "We will not allow violence to return," PM Modi asserted. Hitting out at previous governments, PM Modi said that insurgency in the region had been raging on for decades and had claimed thousands of lives, but past governments were reluctant in addressing the problems.

We won't allow the darkness of violence to return.

Mothers whose children have returned from the wilderness are blessing me today. So many families have been reconciled. There were gunfights for decades, but the Northeast has finally been freed from it: PM Modi #BodoPeaceAccord pic.twitter.com/valrvU6Ivw — BJP (@BJP4India) February 7, 2020

The prime minister also sought to assuage the concerns of people of the region over implementation of the new citizenship law. "Canard is being spread that lakhs of people settlers will come from outside after the enactment of CAA. Nothing of that sort will happen," he said. "The Bodo accord is a victory for all communities and sections of society. There are no losers," the prime minister added. Speaking about the Bodo Accord, PM Modi said, "Today is the day to acknowledge the support of all the young people belonging to All Bodo Students Union (ABSU), National Democratic Front of Bodoland (NDFB), BTC Chief Hagrama Mohilary and Assam government, who played a very positive role for this agreement."

Last year, the National Liberation Front of Tripura and the Govt signed a pact. This organization was banned since 1997.

We started talking in 2015 and signed a pact with them on Aug 10, 2019, bringing them to the Indian mainstream: PM Modi #BodoPeaceAccord pic.twitter.com/twRxVnokkz — BJP (@BJP4India) February 7, 2020

"I welcome all those who were part of the Bodo Land Movement and have joined the mainstream. After five decades, with full harmony, the expectations and aspirations of every partner associated with the Bodo Land Movement have been respected, he added. Prime Minister also said that the Northeast where thousands of people became refugees in their own country due to violence. "They are now being given new facilities to settle here with full respect and dignity," he said. ALSO WATCH | Kokrajhar: PM Modi's First Visit After CAA Implementation On Citizenship Amendment Act While speaking about the Amended Citizenship Act, PM Modi assured that anti-Assam mentality will not be tolerated by his government and cautioned the people about misinformed being spread in the name of CAA. "I am here to assure all in Assam,that anti-Assam&anti-national mentality will not be tolerated and  forgiven by country.Some powers are spreading rumours in Northeast that people from outside will come and settle here due to CAA. I want to assure that no such thing will happen," he said. On Rahul Gandhi's 'Danda' Remark Hitting out at Congress leader Rahul Gandhi for his statement that youth of the country would beat him with sticks in six months, PM Modi said nothing like this is going to happen as he has got blessings of thousands of mothers and sisters. "Kuch log mujhe danda marne ki baat karte hain. Par jis Modi ko itni mataon aur bahinon ka ashirvaad mila hai us Modi pe kitne hi dande barsao, koi asar nahi hoga (There are some people who talk of beating me up with sticks. But nothing will happen to Modi with these attacks because he has the blessings of thousands of mothers and sisters)," PM Modi said. WATCH VIDEO | I'm Protected By Blessings Of All Mothers: PM Modi On Rahul Gandhi's Remark PM Modi's visit to Assam comes days after the state 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 New Delhi. The signing of the Bodo agreement led to the surrender of over 1,500 militants of the major insurgent group NDFB. The Bodo groups have been demanding a separate state of Bodoland for the last 50 years. The movement has resulted in extensive violence and loss of hundreds of lives over the years. (With inputs from agencies)