Dispur, Dec 21: In a major boost to realizing the 7State government’s goal of making an insurgency-free Assam and ushering lasting peace in the State, 64 militants of four insurgent outfits laid down arms and joined the mainstream in front of Chief Minister Sarbananda Sonowal at a function held at Srimanta Sankardev Kalakshetra in the city today.
Another significant step towards making a #TerrorismFreeAssam.
I welcome the 63 members of ULFA(I), PDCK, DNLA & UPRF who joined the mainstream by laying down arms today in Guwahati. I appeal to them to start a new beginning and contribute towards the development of the state. pic.twitter.com/40iYiVMnJ6
— Sarbananda Sonowal (@sarbanandsonwal) December 21, 2020
On the occasion, 18 cadres of United Liberation Front of Assam (I) including self-styled deputy commander-in-chief Drishti Rajkhowa, self-styled C-in-C of People’s Democratic Council of Karbi Longri (PDCK) Ong Teron, 32 members of United People’s Revolutionary Front (UPRF) and 13 from the Dimasa National Liberation Army (DNLA) laid down their arms today.
Chief Minister Sonowal while welcoming the surrendered militants to the mainstream said, “Progress can never be made without peace. Nobody can live peacefully with a heart full of hatred. To take forward the society and family forward, those who took the path of violence must join the mainstream and contribute to nation-building”.
The Chief Minister further said that those who laid down arms should now commit themselves for promoting brotherhood and friendship and contribute to nation-building. He also called upon them to work hand-in-hand following Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s “Team Assam” spirit to build the nation. The Chief Minister on the occasion also urged the militants who are still hiding to shun the path of violence and join the path of peace and progress.
Sonowal also said that paying a rich dividend of the strong leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the trust and confidence his leadership has infused in the minds of the people, most of the proscribed organizations realizing the futility of arms rebellion, have taken the decision to return to the mainstream. He said that the government has taken adequate steps for rehabilitating the members of the insurgent groups who are coming to the mainstream after laying down arms. Besides the schemes of the Centre and State government with the help of the scheme called ‘Swabalamban’ has taken steps to lend dignity to the surrendered militants. He also said that the government giving importance to the surrendered militants has taken steps so that the youths who have decided to come to the mainstream can take the benefits of the government schemes. He also requested them to take benefits of the schemes.
