55 years on, Bijoy Kumar Hrangkhawl continues to fight for Tripura’s indigenous community- A TNT Exclusive
Interviewed By SOMJIT NAHA | April 29, 2018
One of the front runners who fought for the preservation of the rights of Tripura's indigenous community, Bijoy Kumar Hrangkhawl has been influential in upholding the rights of Tripura's minority community and led an armed struggle against the left in 1977. Thereafter, he became the leader of the Indigenous Nationalist Party of Twipra, a political party based in Tripura. From leading an armed struggle to now leading a political party, Bijoy Kumar Hrangkhawl who was the chief of abolished insurgent outfit TNV, he joined parliamentary politics in 1998 when he first contested from 48 Kulai (ST) Assembly constituency and won till 2008. In 2013, he was defeated from Ambassa (ST). In an exclusive interview with TNT- The Northeast Today, BK Hrangkhawl talks about his views on Tripura politics, what went wrong and the future of Tripura's indigenous people.
TNT: What according to you went wrong this time in the 2018 Assembly election?
BK Hrangkhawl: We all wanted that the CPI(M) regime should leave. It was the main issue, so we have to have very hard mind of sacrifice. If we fight to our best we will likely have one or two seats and then the CPI(M) will take advantage again. That was one of the reasons why people voted for BJP-IPFT alliance. And amongst Indigenous parties, many INPT supporters have voted against CPI(M) thereby supporting BJP-IPFT alliance. So, this was the main reason as far as INPT analysis point of view.
TNT: Your party (INPT) was the flag bearer for the rights of Indigenous people. But after the elections now do you feel that IPFT by its movements and activities has taken over your space?
BK Hrangkhawl: Yes, this is the oldest regional party. It is correct that IPFT has won the elections with the help of BJP but if you go today to different parts of the state you can see that people are beginning to doubt their decision. We are not criticizing the ruling alliance. We knew we had to accept it that if we need the CPI(M) regime to be out then certain amount of sacrifice was necessary. So, the people felt that we must understand it but it's not like compromise. BJP was also very powerful, their Central Ministers and National leaders visited the state every other day. They also have unimaginable flow of fund which was also a reason. So, altogether people from the party were very active.
TNT: There were speculations that all the regional opposition Indigenous parties could be united under the umbrella of BJP. But why was that not possible? Were the other regional parties disappointed with the approach of BJP?
BK Hrangkhawl: Yes, we came together in certain number of occasions with INPT, IPFT, NCT and under the banner of Joint Action Committee also. We tried to work together but IPFT seemed to be taking advantage, justifying maximum support from the indigenous people. They have also taken the advantage on the issue of 'Twipraland'. But I don't know whether they have really understood the real meaning of 'Twipraland' because they are unable to fulfill their promise as of today. There has been some of kind of understanding between the Central Government and with the state leadership of the BJP but still IPFT is saying that it is their core demand. But we don't know that for how long they will be able to work with BJP if they keep on demanding 'Twipraland' which their ally BJP has clearly rejected.
TNT: Are you in support of 'Twipraland'?
BK Hrangkhawl: No. Moreover the Twipraland is TTADC area, so how can we support it. We believe in one Tripura. If it has to be 'Twipraland' than it must be the entire Tripura and only TTADC area can't be Twipraland because entire Tripura is 'Twipraland'. And the other Indigenous parties are also not in accordance with the IPFT.
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TNT: What is your party and your alliance partner's future plan of action?
BK Hrangkhawl: We will be meeting the newly elected Chief Minister and we will put forward our demand and we will see the reaction of the state government. Accordingly, we will decide after looking at the approach of the government.
TNT: Was the BJP reluctant to bring IPFT,INPT,NCT under one umbrella and form a bigger Indigenous alliance along with them because they could have easily do so. And why as that they were only in acceptance with the demands of IPFT.
BK Hrangkhawl: Till the last zero hour we (INPT, NCT) tried to come together. We had told them we cannot compromise on less than 6 seats. If IPFT could be given 9 seats than we could be given 6 seats at least but they didn't do it. So, we couldn't agree. We were lastly offered only 2 seats.
TNT: We are almost one year away from the General elections. Are you planning to contest the elections or are you going to forge an alliance with the Congress party?
BK Hrangkhawl: That we will discuss when the time comes.
TNT: Is there any possibility of an alliance with the BJP in the near future?
BK Hrangkhawl: I don't see that's happening and I also think that they are not interested in forging an alliance with us.
TNT: It has been above 40 days since the BJP-IPFT alliance has sworn-in. How do you see their approach?
BK Hrangkhawl: They have got 0 result from the government as of now. During Indira Gandhi time or during Rajiv Gandhi time there was some achievements. Indira Gandhi had invited regional parties and has given us TTADC which is a big achievement. But what did IPFT achieve?
TNT: What according to you are the core challenges for the Indigenous people of the state?
BK Hrangkhawl: Our existence. We have became minority in our own state. So, it is our basic right and responsibility to cry for our existence. We need constitutional protection and political power also. Without political power we cannot develop ourself. People say Indigenous people have every right but right is different and power is different.
TNT: What do you expect from the newly formed state government for the development of Indigenous people?
BK Hrangkhawl: We demand autonomy to TTADC and inner line permit. We also demand identification of all those who have arrived from Bangladesh after 25th March 1971 and all of them must return back from our state. In Tripura if the BJP government will legalise all the foreign nationals as Indian citizen that we won't allow. They can do that in other places but not in Tripura.
TNT: Do you think the demand for 'Twipraland' was used by the ruling party only to gain votes?
BK Hrangkhawl: Yes, they have used it to gain political advantage. BJP and IPFT both very well know that it is not possible to get a separate state for the Indigenous community. Now you can see that their core demand has shifted from Twipraland to forming a high power modulation committee.
TNT: What is your take on armed insurgency, now that the left govt. is no longer in power?
BK Hrangkhawl: I feel that the state government and the Central government should invite them to come out and talk with them, if they are interested. Or they can also let them take package and if they want more money than we will give them more money which I feel was the approach of the past governments. But on this proposal, the people who are revolting might not agree.
TNT: Tell us about the inception of Tripura National Volunteers and merger of other political parties with INPT?
BK Hrangkhawl: How can one now think about the merger. It is already merged in 2002. All the Indigenous parties IPFT, TNV, TUJS merged and it became INPT. But again they pull back which we didn't understand. But they (IPFT) have succeeded in their goal without any achievements or any experience in politics or suffering. I am fighting for the Indigenous people for the last 55 years without becoming anything, still I am fighting. We are not hungry for power otherwise I could have accepted only 2 seats and the BJP has requested me many times saying that you are senior most man and you must be with us. But it is not possible because we are not for individual benefits or gains.
TNT: You, N.C. Debbarma, Jitendra Choudhury, Jishnu Devvarman, Pradyot Bikram Kishore Manikya DebBarma are the voices of the Indigenous people in the state. All of you are fighting for the rights of the Indigenous people and have acceptance among the community. Then why was it never possible for you, despite the difference in political ideologies and affiliations to come together for the justice and rightful demands of the Indigenous people. Is it possible in the near future?
BK Hrangkhawl: Jitendra Choudhury was very young when I came out from underground, he was a student leader at that point of time. But what you are asking that has to seen with its context. Not everyone but many people they foresee their individual goals more than their party goals. And most of them are very commercial. They have land, buildings but I don't have an inch of land. I was evicted two days after the BJP-IPFT sworn-in. I received a letter stating that you are not a MLA anymore so you must evacuate the quarter with immediate effect. Then I explained the issue to the Chief Secretary that I was allotted this quarter as a Chairman of Rubber Plantation Corporation not as MLA after which the Chief Secretary has told me that we will correct it and then they have corrected it and they have given me a fresh letter.
So, you cannot say that the goal is the same. Had the goal been the same then we would have been together and could have said that we are fighting for unity. But in reality we are fighting for individual benefits as well.
TNT: Do you think as a veteran political activist and observer the BJP-IPFT alliance will sustain?
BK Hrangkhawl: That I cannot say. But I know very well what is going to happen but I am not going to make any comments on this for now.
TNT: If the alliance between IPFT and BJP doesn't work out and IPFT comes out from the government and goes to the people with the demand of 'Twipraland' and tell them that because we were not in majority we were unable to make BJP accept our demands. Than do you think people will accept it?
BK Hrangkhawl: This is upto the people to judge at that point of time. See, they are playing politics. If I play politics I can become anything today. Politics is something different and reality is something different. Our people know this, that's why we lost our own land. That is why we are out of power in our own land.
TNT: The Indigenous people have became minority in their own land and it is obviously not possible for them to have political majority through democratic process. So, what is the solution for them by which they can access their rights and fulfill their demands?
BK Hrangkhawl: Solution is nothing but the other communities must respect us. They should respect our existence as we had respected their existence when they were being tortured in their own land and were forced to come this side. We respect it but it doesn't mean that now we get over powered. Democratic weapons are for everybody. For the majorities as well as for the minorities. But here the majorities enjoy everything and we are being treated as second class citizens. The earlier regime was also pro- majorities in their policies and approach. I spoke this on the floor of the house also when I was an MLA but they got offended and said that it is communal. I replied to them that you might feel that but this is what you people have been doing for the past decades. See your budget, it is focused on the appeasement of majorities only. So, what does it mean? It means that if we are minority then democracy is not for us. We respect other communities but why we should be drawn to minority and then being told it is a democratic country and majority must prevail. It means we are going to lose everything. The majority people should love us they must fight along with us for our development and existence. But instead they are trying to snatch all our rights. Not everyone but some powerful people are doing this. In government job, out of almost 1,50,000 we are not even 30,000. Although there is law that we must be represented in the 1/3 of the jobs. If it is 1,50,000 then we must be at least 50,000.
TNT: Now that the elections are over, what do you feel that did people voted for BJP-IPFT alliance or they have voted against CPI(M) regime?
BK Hrangkhawl: They have voted against CPI(M), mostly. That was the reality that's why my own organisational voter has also voted for IPFT-BJP alliance. It is a fact. They said what to do we don't want the CPI(M) to rule anymore. So, this was the only way out. And the ruling party has also made many bold promises which was also a major factor for the winning of BJP-IPFT alliance.
The interviewer can be reached at som.123naha@gmail.com
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