By Firstdespatch Desk Nov 28, 2023
Agartala, Nov 28 (FD) When the ruling BJP in Tripura has geared up its political machinery to win both MP seats in the coming general elections scheduled to be held in between April and May next year, the state’s main opposition TIPRA Motha is again started raising ultra tribalism demand of greater Tipraland.
TIPRA Motha, on Tuesday met the advisor of the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA), AK Mishra and reiterated its demand for Greater Tipraland by carving out the Tripura Tribal Areas Autonomous District Council (TTAADC), which constitute two third of the state’s geographic area.
Mishra, who arrived here yesterday and met Chief Minister Dr. Manik Saha at the Civil Secretariat here and discussed about uplift of the tribals, who form one third of the state’s estimated forty lakh populations.
“We discussed various issues at length related to overall development of our Janajati Communities. I also requested him to meet Janajati leaders of all Political parties including Janajati Samajpati so as to obtain a direct perception about the socio economical and infrastructural development aspects”, Saha said in a social media post.
The founder of the TIPRA Motha, Pradyot Kishore Manikya Debbarma told reporters that a team of his party headed by him had a discussion with Mr. Mishra and they demanded Greater Tipraland as ultimate solution for the indigenous people of the state.
“We have demanded greater Tipraland as ultimate solutions for problems of indigenous people. If the central government has any alternative proposal, they can let us know in writing and we can discuss, but we have not diluted our principal demand”, Debbarma told reporters.
He also demanded Kokbarak, the lingua franca of the tribals in the state for listing in the eighth schedule of the constitution and introduction of Roman script, instead of Bengali script in the language.
“We do not want any kind of imposition on our language. When Pakistan tried to impose Urdu on the Bengali speaking people of erstwhile East Pakistan, it sparked huge protests and finally Bangladesh was formed," he said.
Mishra will also speak to the elders of the tribal community today for obtaining suggestions regarding developments of the indigenous people.
Meanwhile, the Ganamukti Parishad (GMO), the tribal wing of the opposition CPI-M opposed the demand of Janajati Suraksha Manch (JSM’s) for removal of ST status for the tribal people who were converted to Christianity in Tripura. FD JK
GMP leader and former Minister Naresh Jamatiya said, “We consider the demand of JSM as unconstitutional. When we are demanding for more empowerment to the tribal council and upliftment of socio-economic status of the indigenous community of the state, the Janjati Suraksha Manch has been putting effort to weaken the community through their demand for removal for ST status for the tribals who converted to the religion of Christianity.”
He said, lessons must be taken from the neighboring Manipur state, which is still burning due to ethnic violence there. The GMP, which believes in unity in diversity, urges to refrain from ethnic clashes and violence in Tripura. FD JK