Pradyot Kishore Debbarma vows agitation for Greater Tipraland if tribal problems remain unresolved

Pradyot Kishore Debbarma criticised the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), accusing them of making promises to tribals prior to the assembly elections, such as granting more power to the tribal council and direct funding.

tripura, Pradyot Bikram Manikya Debbarma, indian express

TIPRA Motha leader Pradyot Kishore Debbarma. (File)

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TIPRA Motha leader Pradyot Kishore Debbarma on Monday said he wants to initiate a larger agitation to address his party’s demands, including the implementation of Greater Tipraland and the pending general elections for village committees of the Tripura Tribal Areas Autonomous District Council (TTAADC). Debbarma made these remarks during a press conference at the Maharaja Bir Bikram (MBB) Airport upon his arrival from Mumbai, where he participated in a meeting of various political parties under the theme ‘India in 2047.’

Highlighting the current state of Tripura politics, Debbarma alleged that the ADC village committee polls had been intentionally delayed for over two years under various pretexts, such as the COVID-19 pandemic and the inclusion of Bru migrants from Mizoram in the voters’ list. Debbarma issued a stern warning, stating that the tribals of Tripura have recognized this deliberate delay and will soon take to the streets to demand the immediate conduction of TTAADC village committee polls. He emphasised that the absence of elected public representatives in the village committees hampers development in the tribal council areas.

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Debbarma also criticised the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), accusing them of making promises to tribals prior to the assembly elections, such as granting more power to the tribal council and direct funding. However, he claimed that none of these promises were fulfilled following the election results favoring the BJP.

Regarding the recent controversy surrounding the introduction of the Roman script for the indigenous Kokborok language, Debbarma blamed the state government for its unwillingness to accept the change. He further accused the government of deliberately keeping the tribals of Tripura in a state of poverty. He warned that massive protests would soon erupt across Tripura if the government fails to address and resolve the issues faced by tribal communities.

Regarding the demand for Greater Tipraland, Debbarma emphasized that it is not specific to any particular party but rather a constitutional demand essential for the safe and better future of tribals, regardless of political affiliations.

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It has been five months since the timeframe recommended by the High Court of Tripura for conducting elections to Village Committees (VC). In April of this year, the TIPRA Motha Party sought the intervention of the High Court to press the state government to hold polls in TTAADC village committees immediately. The State Election Commission responded by stating that proper preparation and compliance with statutory periods were necessary for the smooth conduct of elections. The Commission mentioned that the electoral rolls had seen an increase in registered voters since the 2016 ADC village committee polls. They argued that if the elections were held based on the 2016 rolls, around one lakh voters would be deprived of their right to vote, including the 21,000 new voters from Mizoram’s Bru migrants. The Commission estimated that 137 days would be required to complete the entire village committee poll process.