A sixteen member delegation of ULFA headed by Arabinda Rajkhowa actually signed the settlement agreement with the government. Questions that are being raised are, is the union government, dominated by the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) playing a new political game in the state through this agreement? Several local commentators and community leaders are not impressed, specifically stating that this latest development will not benefit Assam.

Leader of opposition of Assam Assembly and Congress MLA and three-time MLA from Nazira constituency in the statee, Debabrata Saikia says, “I don’t think Assam got anything special with this pact. And if ULFA declared war against the Nation and the Central Force to get this, they were wrong.”

Specifically, Saikia stated that that the issue of six communities ST status has not been resolved. The agreement didn’t find a place for the implementation of clause 6 of Assam Accord and since the Assam government has failed to fulfil their responsibilities, they are tom-tomming this “accord.”

Meanwhile, however, the chief minister, Himanta Biswas Sarma hailed the signing of the Memorandum of Settlement as a “Historic Day for Assam.”

Significantly, it must be noted that since the BJP government came to Power in Assam (2016), cases of exclusion from the NRC, Passport Act cases and Assam Border Police’s issuing “suspected foreigner notices” have escalated issued at a rapid pace. To the extent that a newly constructed, permanent detention centre (transit camp) has also been opened in the state at Matia in Goalpara District. Over 19,00,000 persons have excluded from NRC on August 31, 2019 four years ago. Yet, to date, rejection slips that contain reasons for exclusion have not been issued, keeping the fate of over 1.9 million persons, actually mostly Indians, hanging in the balance. Instead of alleviation this suffering, several BJP leaders and ministers are on record stating that they want a fresh NRC based on the 1951 records (the 1951 exercise, a socio-economic survey was not even conducted in all districts). Irresponsibly demanding “re-verification” of the rejections, they just aim to make more fragile and uncertain the existence of the most marginalised in Assam, especially the state’s religious and linguistic minorities.

The issue of ‘reservation’ as flagged in this agreement, is being seen as an attempt to create a false –not justified –classification and division of citizens. Will the constitutional rights of a large section of people of Assam be taken away in the name of reservation?

Interestingly, chief minister, Himanta Biswa Sarma made this statement to a reporter, “The point of agreement is that delimitation was carried out in Assam recently, and out of 126, we have secured 97 seats for the indigenous people. So this principle will continue even in the next delimitation. The insecurity that was there among the people politically has been resolved. Even for other issues, a solution has been put in the accord itself.”

He added, “Besides, there is a demand across Assam for a revised NRC because in the last NRC, several factors contributed to the government not doing it properly. Now, a review petition is pending before the Supreme Court (SC). As the matter is before the apex court, this issue is not mentioned (in the agreement) except to say that after the SC gives its verdict, the union government will take the matter afresh. So, while there is a reference to NRC, the issue is not conclusive as the matter is pending in the SC,”

We are happy to see the historic tripartite peace pact signed amongst ULFA, GOI and the Govt of Assam. This will anchor peace in the region and give a big boost to foreign investors like Singapore to move into the Northeast. – HC Wong @PMOIndia @CMOfficeAssam @HMOIndia https://t.co/u0QuyPRXvH

— Singapore in India (@SGinIndia) December 30, 2023

Besides, the latest agreement is just another addition to a litany of previous ‘historic’ agreements signed with militant groups in the region. Only time will tell whether this ‘historic’ accord stands out from others, which turned out to be hollow.

On December 29, signing the agreement with the Arabinda Rajkhowa faction of the United Liberation Front of Asom (ULFA) in New Delhi, the Union home minister Amit Shah quite with his usual bombastic delivery, termed this too as ‘historic’.

Within Assam, since the 1990s, one has seen three ‘peace accords’ in the ‘Bodoland’ area itself, signed with various Union governments held by the two national parties – the Congress and the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP).

The last one, signed with the Narendra Modi government in 2020, was also termed ‘historic’ by Shah. However, the All Bodo Students Union (ABSU) president Dipen Boro then stated in Kokrajhar on December 29 that the agreement has not been “implemented in letter and spirit by the state and central (Modi) government” and if not done soon, the outfit vows to start a ‘democratic movement’. Hence the same regime’s claim that the 2020 agreement was indeed ‘historic’ has already been called into question.

Who will benefit from the ‘peace accord’

One is the Rajkhowa faction of ULFA. Since 2008, its cadres have been waiting in designated camps (set up by the government) for their leaders to pull off an ‘honourable’ agreement with the Union. This would ensure not just their livelihood but some cohesion back into society.

With any resolution delayed, several had begun looking for employment on their own, while some others had gone back to the jungles to join the anti-talks faction of ULFA run by Paresh Barua from Myanmar. These cadres are the sons and daughters of Assamese peasants.

Post the Modi government’s taking over the helm in New Delhi in 2014, the interlocutor appointed by the Manmohan Singh government to carry forward the talks with the Rajkhowa faction had changed. It meant the talks had to begin afresh.

Over time, that new interlocutor was shifted out too. These changes have certainly slowed down the process. So much so that the initial euphoria within the Assamese public and the intellectuals about the likelihood of the ‘historic’ Assam Accord (no more historic by then) to be replaced by another ‘historic’ pact through the Rajkhowa faction of ULFA began to lose steam. In other words, the December 29 agreement with New Delhi has come at a time when it’s worth has been seen to be already diminished. Nobody in Assam expected it to be truly ‘historic’.

This delay is also seen as part of a strategy to tire out those on the other side of the table since it ends up benefitting the Centre. The political timing of the signing of this ‘settlement’, on the eve of the 2024 Lok Sabha polls is crucial since several of the parliamentary seats are in upper Assam where the ULFA still holds sway. With the east and the south being a problem region for the BJP, the party needs to clock victories where it can and it will surely use this ‘accord’ to project itself with the majority Assamese community, indeed pro-Khilonjia (indigenous). The BJP is, therefore, more a direct beneficiary of this ‘historic’ agreement rather than the people of Assam.

Related:

Protests intensify in Assam, prominent BJP leaders resign, ULFA declares fight against CAB

Arms training and hate speech among youth of Assam

As the ruling party peddles hate, the people of Assam live in harmony and hope

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The incident took place only 300 feet from the local police outpost. Telephonic conversations of Sabrangindia with local people, who requested anonymity, alleged that all mobile numbers of the police personnel on duty at the outpost were unavailable when the victim population desperately made calls requesting pritection.There is a serious concern about the  probability of more such attacks.

Represented by an intemperate leader from the BJP, Tinsukia has been simmering with communal tensions since September.  Sabrangindia had reported, that over five days in September 2018, the district has been witnessing acute communal flare-ups.  Until now, there have been several reported attacks, targeted at the Muslim minority in the District, and two group clashes have also been witnessed.

Image Courtesy:mapsofindia.com

The killings on the late evening of Thursday, November 1, take place in an atmosphere of extreme tension and polarisation. Over the last few days, there has been prevailing war of words between the surrendered ULFA leaders and controversial BJP MLA, a  Bengali leader Siladitya Dev. The BJP MLA has been reportedly, continuously making  controversial and provocaive remarks against some organizations representing  Assamese society and surrendered ULFA militants. This has led to a bitter war of words with the surrendered ULFA leaders also reportedly making provocative speeches against the BJP Leader and MLA Siladitya Dev and the Bengali community at large. It was in this atmosphere of extreme provocation and polarisation that the tragic shottings of tonight have taken place. The slain persons were identified as Subal Das, Shyamol Biswas,  Abinash Biswas, Dhananjoy Namasudra and Ananta Biswas, reported Shillong Times.  Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee said the Trinamool Congress will take out rallies in different parts of north and south Bengal to protest the killing of people from her state, NDTV repors.

Meanwhile, Debabrata Saikia, leader of the opposition in the Assam assembly has sharply condemned the attack. “I condemn the cold-blooded killing of at least four-five Bengali speakers in Bisonibari of Dhola, Tinsukia district. My heart goes out to the victims and their families. I had warned during my press conference today that the policy of polarization tacitly condoned or even sponsored by the BJP-led Govts in Assam might lead to a gory conflict. Shame on the BJP! Your greed for votes has claimed the first innocent ethnic-clash victims today in Assam.
I appeal to all sections of the people of Assam to exercise restraint despite flagrant attempts to foment a violent confrontation. The Government must ensure safety and security to life and property of all people living in the state.

Chief Minister Sarbananda Sonowal has also condemned “the killing of innocent people” and conveyed his sympathy to the bereaved families. “Strong action will be taken against the perpetrators of this dastardly violence. We will not tolerate such cowardly act,” he told PTI. Sonowal said he has directed state ministers Keshav Mahanta and Tapan Gogoi along with DGP Kuladhar Saikia to rush to the spot. “We will not spare the culprits of the killings and will be brought to book,” he said. The chief minister appealed to the people of Assam to maintain peace and harmony. He also directed all deputy commissioners and SPs to remain alert.

Image Courtesy: Sabrangindia Team

Siladitya Dev’s Controversial Record

Dev’s extreme and provocative speeches have continued to fan tensions and hatred in the area. The state unit of the ruling party had been caight in a bind over the process of recording the National Register of Citizens (NRC) and its capricious policies around the Citizenship Bill sought to be thrust down on the people of Assam, Dev has been simulataneously criticising the NRC itself while pushing for the Citizenship Bill. Weeks ago, an assam Bandh opposing the Citizenship Bill was a resounding success despite all manners of coercive tactics employed by the government to prevent small and big businesses and government servants participating in the state wide protest. Ever since the saffron party won power in this north eastern state, acute tensions and polarisations have percolated to the polity.

Tinsukia Simmers
In the oil-rich town of Doomdooma, the first Communal clash broke out on the day of Ganesh Chaturthi festival. On the same day, September 13, on Rajendra Prasad road,  some Muslims began to practice with the Tajia procession, on the eve the Muharram processions. This rehearsal of the Tajia  procession was begun from the Muslim populated area of the town after 10 pm. Close by, celebrations around the Ganesh Puja had been going on since the early hours of the same day. Though the minority population is barely five per cent targeted incidents have been reported.

Image Courtesy: Sabrangindia Team
 

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As per The Hindu, Assam’s Additional DGP (Special Branch) Pallab Bhattacharya had, a week ago, cautioned about efforts by Islamist groups like Hizb-ul-Mujahideen “to strike during the festive season. The theory gained currency after the arrest of eight alleged members of the group from Assam and Meghalaya during the last fortnight,” The Hindu reported. 

However, the United Liberation Front of Asom-Independent (ULFA-I) took responsibility for the blast. The Hindu reported that Paresh Baruah, the group’s military chief, made a statement from somewhere along the Myanmar-China border, saying, “Our members carried out the explosion to protest the occupational Indian government’s attempt to settle Bengali immigrants in Assam through the Citizenship Bill. The attack is also against the conspiracy to derail the National Register of Citizens (NRC)”. The Indian Express reported that Baruah, while speaking to television channel Newslive, said the group was aiming to warn “Hindu Bengali organisations, who are conspiring against Assam despite living in Assam and are protesting against the NRC”. Baruah was head saying, “… through your channel I want to inform that these Bengali organisations who have been working against the interest of Assamese community despite living in Assam should refrain from doing so in the future. If they don’t, we will again do such activity in any part of Assam and target Bengali Hindu organisations, who are against NRC and are working against the interest of indigenous people”.

As per The Hindu, Saikia said that an investigation would indicate if ULFA was genuinely responsible for the blast, saying, “We are trying to find out the nature of the explosives, and since the rebels have owned up, whether they triggered it themselves or outsourced the job to others”. The Hindu noted on October 13 that the police had not “ruled out an ‘opportunistic claim’ by the ULFA-I.” 

Meanwhile, The Telegraph has reported that students’ group All Cachar Karimganj Hailakandi Students’ Association said it would persist in backing the Citizenship (Amendment) Bill, 2016. The group’s founder-president Pradip Dutta Roy told reporters, “If they (Ulfa) are thinking that Bengalis will become afraid after the blast, they are living in a fool’s paradise. They are unaware of the history of Bengalis. They do not know about the sacrifices made by Bengalis for Independence. They also have no idea about the 1961 agitation in which 11 people had laid down their lives for Bengali language,” adding, “The blast was nothing but a cowardly attempt to create tension among the masses”. Subhranshu Sekhar Bhattacharya of the North East Linguistic and Ethnic Coordination Committee also said the blast would not affect the passage of the bill, and said he was hoping it would be passed during Parliament’s winter session, The Telegraph stated.  

The controversial Citizenship (Amendment) Bill, 2016 aims to provide citizenship to non-Muslim migrants from Pakistan, Afghanistan, and Bangladesh, who entered India by December 31, 2014. It has sparked fears that it would legitimise ‘Hindu Bangladeshis’ in the state and turn the indigenous Assamese into a minority, The Hindu reported.
 

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