Since elevation to power in 2014, Modi
government made laudable efforts to bring the much-neglected North East region
into fold of development. Modi who has referred to North Eastern states as “Ashta
Lakshmi” swung into action to revive the region and settle several contentious
issues plaguing the region. Dilly-dally approach of previous dispensations turned
the region into a hotbed for violence, killing, kidnappings and extortion. People
began to lose faith in democracy. Development took a back seat.
Modi’s government’s earnest Naga Peace
Accord in 2015 testified its commitment towards restoration of peace and
harmony in the region. NDA’s efforts to engage with the warring factions through
empathic understanding, won the confidence of people. Even extremism related killings
registered a sharp decline. To revamp the region marred by violence, government
generously allocated funds to initiate a slew of infrastructure development and
connectivity projects. Armed Forces (Special Powers) Act was lifted from several
regions. With a promise of development-oriented
governance, BJP even made political inroads into the region. Now BJP is in
power in six out of the seven NE states. In the first five years of his tenure Prime
Minister Modi, transformed the region by improving accessibility. Making development
of the region as an immediate priority under the Act East policy, Modi government
turned it into a gateway for South East Asia.
Months into second term, Modi
government passed several legislations which changed the economic, social,
political and civilisational milieu of India. To bring about peace, harmony and
development to region, Modi government signed Bodo Peace Accord on January 27th.
Shadowed by Shaheen Bagh, anti-CAA narratives and Delhi Elections, a landmark
peace deal which attempted to conclusively address the longstanding demands of
Bodos was clinched. Government signed a tripartite agreement with all factions
of National Democratic Front of Bodoland (NDFB), All Bodo Students Union (ABSU),
and United Bodo Peoples Organisation (UBPO), a civil society organisation. The
accord the third in line in the past 27 years.
Indian government signed first
agreement to settle the Bodoland issue in 1993. Since pre-independence era,
Bodo leaders have been demanding separate representation. In 1929 for the first
time Bodo leader Gurudev Kalicharan Brahma submitted a memorandum to the Simon
Commission demanding reservation for Bodos in Assam Legislative Assembly. After
independence, when states were carved on linguistic basis, Bodos reiterated
their demand in 1960s and renewed calls for separate state “Udayachal”.
By 1980s ABSU and Bodo Peoples
Action Committee (BPAC) intensified protests for a Bodoland and sought the division
of the state of Assam to create a separate Bodoland. Acceding to the demands of
ABSU, in 1993 government created Bodoland Autonomous Council (BAC) bestowing
some political powers. By 1996 violent protests erupted in the region due to
gaps in implementation and ABSU revived the demand for separate statehood. In 2003,
the Central government signed second tripartite agreement with Assam government
and Bodo Liberation Tigers (BLT), the underground armed unit of ABSU, leading
to creation of Bodo land Territorial Council (BTC) under the sixth schedule of
the Constitution. Accordingly, Bodoland Territorial Area District (BTAD) comprising
of four contiguous northern districts of Assam-Kokrajhar, Chirang, Udulguri and
Baska was created. But violence returned to the region between 2012-2014 due to
series of riots between Bodos and non-Bodos leading to death of hundreds and
displacement of over five lakh people. For several decades, peace eluded the
region and piecemeal accords failed to bring harmony to the state.
Given the expediency of current
accord, sceptics have expressed concerns over the veracity of the deal. Interestingly, the preparations for a fresh
peace deal have been underway for the past six months. As per news reports, determined
to bring all Bodo militants to mainstream, Chief Administrator of BTC Hagrama
Mahilary, a former militant leader of defunct BLT together with Indian,
Myanmarese authorities have played a crucial role in bringing the last of
insurgent leaders to India. Mahilary is head of Bodoland People’s Front (BPF),
a BJP-alliance partner. He took upon himself to make the region militant free. He
is believed to have reached out to NDFB-P and NDBF-R.
NDFB in the previous avatar was
Bodo Security Force (BSF). After the failure of the first peace accord in 1993,
BSF became NDFB which soon evolved into the largest militant group and carried
out attacks on the non-Bodos. With the help of ULFA, NDBF initially moved to Bhutan
borders. In 2003, Royal Bhutan Army launched “Operation All Clear” to flushing
out these outfits along its borders, NDBF moved to Myanmar. In 2005 NDBF split
after a group led by Govinda Basumatary, NDBF Progressive (P) signed ceasefire
agreement with government. The remaining group led by Ranjan Daimary unleashed
violence in the region that killed over 100 people. After Daimary’s arrest in
Bangladesh in 2012, he agreed for peace talks with government. But the
breakaway faction led by IK Sangbijit evaded peace process and continued to
operate from Myanmar with Paresh Baruah’s help. B Saoraigra started leading the
group after Sangbijit left.
Aside Mahilary, reports indicate
that two young men of Bodo region both in their 20s played a pivotal role in
bringing the different factions of NDBF to accept the peace negotiations. They
are Prince Raj Kumar Prithviraj Narayan Dev Mech, the 19th
descendent of the Bodo king and his friend an IIT Madras alumnus from
Humanities stream Thulunga Basumatary. They earned the trust of the central
government and prepared a draft peace plan, travelled to Myanmar to meet the
NDBF (S) leadership and convinced them to disband arms. They took families of
NDBF (S) families into confidence.
With the concerted efforts of the various
peace aspiring zealots, government signed the 2020 peace accord. NDFB groups led
by Ranjan Daimary, Govinda Basumatary, Dhiren Boro, B Saoraigra signed the agreement.
According to reports, nearly 80% of the draft prepared by the young Assamese
found place in the final accord. Unlike the previous accords, this landmark
deal inked by central government obtained the consent of all the major
stakeholders of the region. The present government unlike in the past, prevailed
upon Myanmar to deny militants refuge. Myanmar Army is believed to have driven
away these insurgent groups away from their hideouts along the borders. The various
extremist leaders of India origin over years have found safe haven in Myanmar. Given
the strong links between NDBF (S) and Paresh Baruah who sometimes operates from
China, there are lingering doubts about the group returning to mainstream. Of the
two major factions of ULFA, one group has been in peace talks since UPA regime,
Modi government is sending feelers to Baruah with a proposed plan.
In the first fortnight of January last
of Bodo insurgent faction, B Saoraigra’s NDFB (S) which has hideouts in Myanmar
surrendered to Indian forces along the Indo-Myanmar border with their weaponry.
In a ceremony on January 30th commemorating the death anniversary of
Mahatma Gandhi 1615 NDBF militants surrendered arms and weaponry.
The new agreement is truly outstanding,
as it created a homeland for Bodos, the Bodoland Territorial Region (BTR) which
has more political, executive, administrative and financial powers without disturbing
the territorial integrity of Assam. As a result, militants have dropped the
idea of a separate statehood. Through this accord government has developed a template
of “homeland without coming out of the parent and existing state”. It
can now replicate this new arrangement in resolving the demands of the tribal
groups in Manipur, Nagaland and of various ethnic and tribal groups in Assam.
Government instituted a commission
headed by retired judge who will now work out a mechanism to exchange villages.
Villages with majority tribal population and contiguous with BTR can now be
included the autonomous region and the non-tribal villages can be excluded.
This mechanism can address the issues of both tribals and non-tribals part of
the council currently. Number of seats are raised to 60 from existing 40 and 16
seats are demarcated as open. These can be contested by non-tribals. Also, a provision
was created to nominate women and non-tribals to BTR council. In all,
government has allotted 1500 Crores package to the council towards development
of various academic, educational, cultural institutions. Bodo language in
Devnagri script is declared as official language of the region. Special
constitutional provisions were put in place to maintain the unique cultural,
linguistic and ethnic identity of Bodos.
Addressing a huge rally in Kokrajhar,
Modi touted this accord as the “new dawn of Assam”. The huge turnout of over 5
lakh people and the bill rallies by the militant outfits ahead of the rally demonstrates
that Modi government has delivered on its promise to bring peace. BPF has been
ruling the BTC unrivalled since 2003. Speculations are rife that the four factions
of NDBF are likely to float a political party. The willingness of militant
factions to participate in a democratic process through political recourse is a
welcome change and reflects their proclivity to eschew violence. This marked
shift is an endorsement of government’s accord to reinstate peace.
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