‘Come back, celebrate new life’
*Take inspiration from Bodo insurgents
Sanjeev Pargal
JAMMU, Feb 7: Prime Minister Narendra Modi today made clarion call to the militants in Jammu and Kashmir, North East and Naxal-infested States to shun the path of violence, return to the national mainstream and celebrate new life.
Modi used his address to a massive rally at Kokrajhar in Assam to pitch for peace and call upon the militants operating in Jammu and Kashmir, North East and Naxals to give up the gun culture. As many as 644 militants had surrendered en-masse in Assam on January 23 this year.
“Those still with bombs, guns and bullets in Jammu and Kashmir, other parts of North-East and Naxalites…Come back…Join the national mainstream and enjoy a new life,” the Prime Minister said in what can be seen as significant call to the militants in Kashmir and some other States of the country to shun the path of violence.
“Wapas Laut Aiye Aur Jeevan Ka Jashn Manaiye (come back and celebrate the life),” Modi said in his joint appeal made to the militants operating in Kashmir, some parts of North East and few States infested by Naxalism.
He said entire country’s blessings are with the people giving up the gun culture.
The Prime Minister also appealed to extremists in the Northeast and militants in Jammu and Kashmir to take inspiration from Bodo insurgents, a large number of whom had surrendered in Assam few days back.
The Prime Minister made the pitch for peace from Kokrajhar district of Assam which was once hotbed of an armed movement for Bodoland and assumed significance as it comes after completion of six months of scrapping of special Constitutional provisions of Jammu and Kashmir and bifurcation of the erstwhile State into two Union Territories of J&K and Ladakh.
Only yesterday, Modi, in his reply to Motion of Thanks to President’s Address in both Houses of Parliament, had stated that police and security forces have launched decisive action against the militants in Jammu and Kashmir and also took four former Chief Ministers of the erstwhile State including Dr Farooq Abdullah, Omar Abdullah, Ghulam Nabi Azad and Mehbooba Mufti to task for their provocative statements.
PTI adds:
“Now development is our first and last priority. Trust me, I am yours. When you have decided to shun the path of bombs and guns, I will do everything to ensure that not even a thorn pricks you,” the Prime Minister said.
“There are no losers, everybody has won. But first, this is the victory of peace, of humanism,” he said of the accord and noted it will benefit both the Bodos and non-Bodos, who have often been in conflict.
The area under the Bodo Territorial Region governed by a council will be expanded, he said.
In an apparent effort to allay fears of non-Bodos, the Prime Minister said the Centre will work expeditiously to implement Clause 6 of the Assam Accord once the high-powered committee submits its report.
The clause envisaged that Constitutional, Legislative and Administrative safeguards shall be provided to protect, preserve and promote cultural, social, linguistic identity and heritage of the Assamese people.
“I have complete faith that the Bodoland Territorial Council will create a development model based on inclusivity that will give economic progress a new dimension in consonance with ‘sabka saath, sabka vikas and sabka vishwas’,” he said.
Targeting the previous non-BJP Governments, Modi said they avoided trying to find solutions to intractable issues and let them fester.
“Nobody wanted to touch North-East with a bargepole. They thought there’s trouble, there’s violence. Quell it with force. This alienated people who lost their faith in democracy and the Constitution,” he said, adding for his Government North-East was a priority area.
Modi said he created a roster of his Ministers who would visit the region every 10-15 days, listen to the problems of people and resolve them.
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