New Delhi: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday hailed the people from the Bodo community for eschewing violence and taking up the path of peace after the historic accord of 2020, asserting that the government is making steady efforts to bring lasting peace in the Northeast region.
Addressing the inaugural ceremony of the first Bodoland Mahotsav at the SAI Indira Gandhi Sports Complex here, the prime minister said that after the signing of the Bodo Peace Accord (in 2020), Bodoland witnessed a “new wave of growth”.
Hailing the entire Northeast as an “Astalakshmi” — a reference to the eight states of the region — Modi said the sun of ‘vikas’ (development) will rise from eastern India to lend new energy to the “Viksit Bharat” resolve.
Modi said the Bodo Peace Accord not only benefitted the community but also opened new avenues for many other accords in the region, as he emphasized that the government is trying to find “amicable solutions” to the border disputes between different northeastern states.
The theme of the festival is ‘Peace and Harmony for Prosperous Bharat’ with focus on the rich culture, language and education of the Bodo community along with other communities from the Bodoland Territorial Region (BTR).
“You have gathered here to celebrate the festival of a new future of peace, culture and prosperity. Fifty years of bloodshed consumed three-four generations of youth. After many decades, the Bodo community is celebrating a festival,” Modi said.
“With great patience, every knot has been fixed slowly with all of you scripting new history,” Modi said, adding that it was an “emotional” moment for him.
In early 2020, a Memorandum of Settlement (MoS) was signed with factions of the National Democratic Front of Bodoland (NDFB), All Bodo Students Union, etc., seeking to increase the scope and power of the Bodoland Territorial Council and to streamline its functioning; resolve issues related to Bodo people residing outside the Bodoland Territorial Area Districts (BTAD); and to promote and protect the Bodo community’s social, cultural, linguistic and ethnic identities.
The Bodoland Territorial Region spans four districts of Assam — Kokrajhar, Chirang, Baksa, and Udalguri.
Addressing the gathering, Modi also emphasized that more than 10,000 youths in Assam alone have laid down their arms to return to the mainstream as a result of the accord, adding that it was beyond people’s imagination that the Karbi Anglong Accord, the Bru-Reang Accord and the NLFT-Tripura Accord would become a reality someday.
Emphasizing the mutual trust between the people and the government, Modi said the Centre and the Assam government are leaving no stone unturned for the development of Bodoland and its people.
On the salutary effects of the Peace Accord on the Bodo community, Modi said a “strong foundation” for a bright future has been laid, adding that his mind felt “satisfied” after seeing the impact of growth on Bodoland.
“You have taken it (accord) from the paper to the ground level, illuminating the entire Northeast with the light of peace,” Modi said while hailing the Bodo Peace Accord.
Stating that the youth who earlier wielded guns are now excelling in sports in Bodoland, Modi highlighted Kokrajhar hosting two editions of the Durand Cup, India’s oldest football tournament, and the arrival of teams from Bangladesh, Nepal, and Bhutan as historic feats.
