TIPRA, IPFT to begin protest for Tipraland in Delhi from today
Chairman of TIPRA, Pradyot Kishore Manikya Debbarma said that, besides the demand for Tipraland, the protest will be held on a number of issues including the early passing of 125th amendment in the parliament, demand of Roman script for Kokborok language, repealing of CAA and “thansa” (unity).
AGARTALA:
More than 1500 workers and supporters including the leaders of Indigenous People’s Front of Tripura (IPFT), the partner in the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) government in the state, and The Indigenous Progressive Regional Alliance (TIPRA) will hold a protest demanding Tipraland - a separate state for tribals in Tripura – at Jantar Mantar, New Delhi, on November 30.
Speaking to The Northeast Today (TNT), chairman of TIPRA, Pradyot Kishore Manikya Debbarma said that, besides the demand for Tipraland, the protest will be held on a number of issues including the early passing of 125th amendment in the parliament, demand of Roman script for Kokborok language, repealing of CAA and “thansa” (unity). “Our protest will go on till December 1,” he added.
Interestingly, IPFT, which had inked a pact with TIPRA before the Tripura Tribal Areas Autonomous District Council (TTAADC) polls, ditched the alliance and teamed up with the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) to contest the polls in April 6.
“IPFT has assured us that they wanted to join TIPRA. And I have told them that it’s better to become one political party and speak in one voice. But once they join us, we need to agree on one thing that we’ll not form an alliance with any national party until they support our demand of Tipraland and Greater Tipraland. Now the ball is in IPFT’s court; whether they want to be in alliance with a national party or come with us and fight for a common cause,” he said.
On being asked about the joint protest and confusion regarding the demand for ‘Tipraland’ and ‘Greater Tipraland’, Pradyot assured that “there is no confusion”.
“There is not much difference between Tipraland and Greater Tipraland. Both are mentioned in Articles 2 and 3 of the Indian Constitution. It should also include certain areas which have been excluded from the 6th Schedule and I am also saying this on behalf of all those people outside the ambit of the Autonomous District Council. We should bring them in. And for those who can’t be brought in, there should be a development council which should look after the social-economic aspect of the indigenous people,” he said.
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