Tripartite peace accord to be inked between ULFA, Centre, Assam govt
New Delhi (PTI): A tripartite peace accord between the pro-talks faction of the United Liberation Front of Asom (ULFA), and the central and Assam governments will be signed here on Friday, aiming to end decades-old insurgency in the northeastern state, officials said.
Union Home Minister Amit Shah, Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma and more than a dozen top leaders of the pro-talks faction of the ULFA, headed by Arabinda Rajkhowa, will be present during the signing of the peace agreement.
The accord will take care of a host of long-standing political, economic and social issues concerning Assam, besides providing cultural safeguards and land rights to the indigenous people, the officials said.
The hardline faction of the ULFA led by Paresh Baruah will not be part of the agreement as he has been consistently rejecting the olive branch offered by the government.
Two top leaders of the Rajkhowa group -- Anup Chetia and Sashdhar Choudhary -- have been in the national capital since last week and gave the final touches to the peace agreement along with government interlocutors, the sources said.
Those who have been talking to the ULFA faction from the government side include Intelligence Bureau Director Tapan Deka and the government's advisor on the Northeast affairs A K Mishra.
The Rajkhowa-led ULFA faction had begun unconditional talks with the central government in 2011, despite strong opposition from the hardline faction led by Baruah, who is believed to be residing at a place along the China-Myanmar border.
The ULFA was formed in 1979 with the demand for a "sovereign Assam". Since then, it has been involved in subversive activities that led to the central government declaring it a banned outfit in 1990.
The Rajkhowa faction joined peace talks with the government on September 3, 2011 after an agreement for Suspension of Operations (SoO) was signed between the ULFA, central and state governments.
Let the Truth be known. If you read VB and like VB, please be a VB Supporter and Help us deliver the Truth to one and all.
Farmers suspend foot march to Delhi for the day
Shambhu (PTI): Protesting farmers on Saturday suspended their foot march to Delhi for the day after some of them suffered injuries in tear gas shelling by Haryana security personnel here along the state's border with Punjab.
Farmer leader from Punjab Sarwan Singh Pandher told reporters that the two forums have decided "to call back our 'jatha'".
Replying to a question, Pandher said 17-18 farmers have sustained injuries during the Haryana security personnel action. Farmer leader Manjit Singh Rai alleged that rubber bullets were also used by security personnel and one farmer was seriously injured.
"Both the forums have decided to call back the jatha for today and the next course of action will be taken after a meeting," Rai said.
Pandher alleged that "chemical mixed water was used to disperse the farmers and more teargas shells were used this time".
Deputy Superintendent of Police, Ambala Cantt, Rajat Gulia, however, refuted the allegation.
Pandher said while the debate is going on in Parliament on the 75 years of the adoption of the Constitution, "No one is raising the voice for farmers in Parliament...over here we want to know which Constitution applies to our protest. How can a jatha of 101 farmers pose a threat to the country's law and order".
The Haryana security personnel fired teargas shells and also used a water cannon to disperse the protesters.
The action came after the group of farmers, who resumed their foot march to Delhi shortly after 12 noon on Saturday from the Shambhu protest site on the Punjab-Haryana border, reached the barricades put up by the Haryana security personnel.
The farmers are pressing the Centre for various demands, including a legal guarantee for MSP. Soon after walking for a few metres, the group of farmers were stopped at the barricade by Haryana security personnel.
It was the third attempt by protesting farmers to march towards the national capital. Farmers had earlier made two attempts on December 6 and December 8 but were not allowed to proceed by security personnel in Haryana.
The farmers under the banner of Samyukta Kisan Morcha (Non-Political) and Kisan Mazdoor Morcha have been pressing for various demands, including a legal guarantee for MSP. They have also been pressing the Centre to initiate talks with them to address their issues.
Farmers under the banner of SKM (Non-Political) and KMM have been camping at Shambhu and Khanauri border points between Punjab and Haryana since February 13 after their march to Delhi was stopped by security forces.
Besides a legal guarantee on MSP for crops, the farmers are demanding a debt waiver, pension for farmers and farm labourers, no hike in the electricity tariff, withdrawal of police cases and "justice" for the victims of the 2021 Lakhimpur Kheri violence.
