A Memorandum of Settlement was signed among the Centre, Tripura government, and representatives of the National Liberation Front of Tripura, NLFT and All Tripura Tiger Force, ATTF in New Delhi today. Home Minister Amit Shah, Chief Minister of Tripura Manik Saha and senior officials of the Home Ministry and Tripura government were present on the occasion.

Speaking on the occasion, the Home Minister said it is a matter of joy that NLFT and ATTF have given up weapons and joined the mainstream and expressed their commitment towards the development of Tripura. He highlighted that ever since Narendra Modi became the Prime Minister, he has presented the vision of a capable and developed Northeast before the country through peace and dialogues. Mr Shah noted that earlier, there was a distance between the people of Northeast and Delhi. He said the Prime Minister has not only removed this distance through road, rail and air connectivity but also removed the distance between people’s hearts.

The Home Minister said the Centre has resolved to develop the entire Northeast, including Tripura, by combining the concepts of ‘Ashtalakshmi’ and ‘Purvodaya,’ with today’s agreement serving as a milestone. He said that under the agreement signed today, more than 328 armed cadres will renounce violence, join the mainstream of society, and contribute not only to building a developed Tripura but also to developing India as a whole.

Mr. Shah said that the Government is making wholehearted efforts, with due consideration to all sensitivities, in implementing all agreements to ensure the development of the area and to eliminate the reasons that drive people to take up arms. He added that the Centre has approved a special package of 250 crore rupees for the overall development of Tripura’s tribal population.

The Home Minister also said that the Narendra Modi government lifted the Armed Forces Special Powers Act from Tripura in 2015 and that it has been withdrawn from many parts of the Northeast. He emphasized that instead of deploying armed forces, the government is committed to the development of the entire Northeast through the preservation and development of its culture, languages, and identity, particularly those of tribal groups.

The Narendra Modi Government has signed 12 important agreements so far to bring peace and prosperity to the Northeast. Of these, three agreements are related to Tripura. Around ten thousand people have given up arms and joined the mainstream due to the signing of several agreements by the current government to make the North-East region free from extremism, violence and conflict.