The Government of India and Government of Manipur signed a Peace Agreement with United National Liberation Front, the oldest valley-based armed group of Manipur in New Delhi on Wednesday by senior officials of the Union Ministry of Home Affairs and GoM and representatives of UNLF, PIB New Delhi said. UNLF, formed in 1964, has been operating both within and outside Indian Territory. The agreement is poised to give a fillip to usher in a new era of peace in the North East in general and Manipur in particular.
Reacting to the news, Union Home Minister and Minister of Cooperation, Amit Shah said that a historic milestone achieved and welcomed UNLF to the democratic processes and wish them all the best in their journey on the path of peace and progress. In his posts on X, Shah said that it is a landmark achievement in realising Prime Minister Narendra Modi vision of all-inclusive development and providing a better future to the youths in Northeast India.
The peace agreement signed today with the UNLF by the Government of India and the Government of Manipur marks the end of a six-decade-long armed movement.
It is a landmark achievement in realising PM @narendramodi Ji’s vision of all-inclusive development and providing a better… pic.twitter.com/P2TUyfNqq1
— Amit Shah (@AmitShah) November 29, 2023
It is for the first time a valley-based Manipuri armed group has agreed to return to mainstream by abjuring violence and agreeing to honour the Constitution of India and laws of the land, PIB stated. The agreement will not only bring an end to hostilities between UNLF and security forces which have claimed precious lives on both sides over the last more than half a century but also provide an opportunity to address the longstanding concerns of the community. It is hoped that the return of UNLF to the mainstream will also encourage other valley-based armed groups to participate in the peace process in due course.
A Peace Monitoring Committee (PMC) will be constituted to oversee enforcement of the agreed ground rules. The development is likely to be a significant step in restoring peace and normalcy in the State.
