Congress MLA Birajit Sinha Pushes for Manipuri Development Councils in Tripura

Agartala: Congress MLA Birajit Sinha wants separate development councils for the Manipuri and Bishnupriya Manipuri communities. He made the demand at a Wednesday press conference in Kailashahar. Social workers Chandra Shekhar Sinha and Nil Kishore Sinha attended. Goladharpur Gram Panchayat Pradhan Kapur Raj Sinha and Gournagar Panchayat Samiti member Deep Sinha joined them.

Sinha claims these communities lived in Tripura since its time as a princely state. He argues they have suffered from long-term neglect. The lack of support threatens their traditions and leaves the youth disconnected from their heritage. He wants the state government to act fast. "The Manipuri and Bishnupriya Manipuri communities have been living in Tripura with their distinct cultural traditions since the erstwhile princely state period."

A seminar at Unakoti Kalakshetra in Kailashahar on September 26 will push this agenda further. Over 400 representatives plan to attend. Attendees will form a Development Council Demand Committee to lobby the Chief Minister and the Governor. Sinha pointed to the existing council in Assam as a working model. He previously studied documents on the Assam council's structure and held talks with Tripura officials. The councils would support cultural preservation ahead of upcoming Village Council elections under the Tripura Tribal Areas Autonomous District Council.