New Delhi, Mar 16 (UNI) Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Sunday addressed the 57th annual conference of All Bodo Students' Union (ABSU) in Kokrajhar, Assam and said that ABSU has played a significant role in establishing peace, development and enthusiasm in the region.

He said, "Without the role of ABSU, the Bodo Accord would not have been possible, and peace would not have been established in Bodoland.", a Home Ministry statement said.

Shah further said, "ABSU is advancing education, empowerment and development. It is due to the efforts of ABSU that today, students are able to take their exams up to the 12th grade in the Bodo language. As a result, our Bodo language has been recognized and will remain alive for many years to come. Today's event sends a strong message of the peace established in Bodoland."

Slamming the Opposition for "mocking" the Bodoland Territorial Region (BTR) peace agreement, which was signed on January 27, 2020, Shah said, "Today, the central government and the Assam government have fulfilled 82 percent of the conditions of this agreement."

He further stated that under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, the central government will "implement 100 percent of this agreement in the next two years. After that, there will be lasting peace in the BTR".

Shah said that under the BTR peace agreement, the government removed the Armed Forces (Special Powers) Act (AFSPA) from the entire BTR area on April one, 2022. He also mentioned that under the central government’s ‘One District, One Product’ (ODOP) programme, today, the mushroom from Kokrajhar, known as "Mushroom From Bodoland," is being included in the menus of hotels in Delhi. This has become possible due to the peace established in Bodoland.

He further stated that because of the peace, Bodoland was able to host the 'Durand Cup' tournament. He appealed to the athletes of Bodoland to start preparing for the potential Olympics in India in 2036.

Hailing the contribution of Bodo leader Upendra Nath Brahma, Shah said, "Today, when entire Bodoland is following the path shown by its leader, Upendra Nath Brahma Ji, the government has decided to name a prominent road in Delhi as Bodopa Upendra Nath Brahma Marg. In the first week of April, a programme will be held in Delhi where a bust of Upendra Nath Brahma Ji will be unveiled. The Modi government and the Assam government will bring every dream of Bodopa Upendra Nath Brahma Ji to fruition."

He said that more than a dozen products from Bodoland have received the GI (Geographical Indication) Tag. As a result, an industrial environment is gradually being created across the entire BTR area. He mentioned that there was a time when there were discussions about unrest, chaos and separatism, but now the focus has shifted to education, development and industry.

Shah also said that the central government and the Assam government have allocated Rs 1,500 crore for the development of Bodoland, even though the population of the region is only 3.5 million.

Hailing his government for carrying out peace and development initiatives, Shah said, "Hundreds of youths have been brought into the mainstream of society. Many weapons were surrendered, and in the last three years, Rs 287 crore have been spent on the rehabilitation of 4,881 members of the National Democratic Front of Bodoland (NDFB) in Assam, with 90 percent of this amount provided by the Modi government".

Praising Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma, he said that he has made a new beginning by recruiting 400 Bodo youths into the Assam Commando Battalion. He further mentioned that the central government has signed agreements with a total of nine insurgent groups in Assam, bringing over 10,000 youths into the mainstream of society.

Shah said that where once bullets were fired, today Bodo youth are waving the tricolor in their hands. This sight sends a message to the entire country.

He said that when the Bodo Accord was signed, not only Bodoland and Assam but the entire country was happy.

Just as the people of Bodoland love the country, the entire country loves Bodoland and its people and is committed to the development of its youth, he said.

He said that the Bathou religion, followed by the people of Bodoland, holds great significance. He explained that Bathou is made up of two elements, and its meaning is "the deep mystery of the creator of the five elements." The five elements, or panchatatva, include fire, air, earth, sky and water, which form the foundation of your great religion. He also mentioned that he strives to spread the message of the Bathou religion.

The Home Minister added that under the leadership of Prime Minister Modi, the entire Northeast has been freed from issues such as insurgency, movements, blockades, strikes and violence, and has been ushered onto the path of development.

He appealed to the Bodo youths to focus on their education and contribute to the peace process. He assured that the Government of India and the Assam government will leave no stone unturned in the development of Bodoland.

UNI RBE SS