Amid a boycott call of 12 separatist outfits, including Ulfa, hundreds of people defied militant threat to take part in Republic Day’s celebrations in Assam and other northeastern states.
Assam governor J.B. Patnaik, who hoisted the tri-colour at a veterinary college playground, lauded the multi-pronged strategy of the state government and claimed that it has started paying dividend in the form of peace pacts with militants and suspension of counter-insurgency operations in the state.
He said, “The strategy in the form of sustained development efforts, counter-insurgency operations against active militant groups and peace overtures for people willing to come forward for negotiated settlement has paid rich dividends.”
He said that the suspension of operations, agreements with various extremist outfits such as the UPDS, KLNLF, DHD(N), DHD(J), NDFB(P), ACMA, BCF and Ulfa led by its chairman Arabinda Rajkhowa, justify the initiative of the state government. “Recent agreements with the UPDS had resulted in the peaceful (autonomous district) Council elections in Karbi Anglong district,” he said.