Photo Courtesy: India Today Group
Agartala: Tipra Motha Party chief Pradyot Kishore Manikya Debbarma hit the pavement on October 6, demanding the Centre honor its promises to Tripura's indigenous people. The ultimatum follows a massive win for his party in the Tripura Tribal Areas Autonomous District Council village committee elections. The TMP secured 3,428 of the 4,594 available seats across 587 committees. The BJP trailed with 859 seats, and the Indigenous People's Front of Tripura claimed 33.
These polls marked the first democratic vote in nearly a decade. Debbarma forced the issue through both the Tripura High Court and the Supreme Court to finally trigger the action. He now wants the focus on the Tiprasa accord. Signed in March 2024, the agreement involves the Centre, the state government, and the TMP. Its goal is to fix development issues for local tribes. Union Home Minister Amit Shah previously promised Debbarma that work would start after Durga Puja in the presence of Chief Minister Manik Saha.
The pressure is on. "We hope the Centre to honour the commitment given to the people of tribal areas," Debbarma said. He warned that missing these deadlines makes it impossible to face voters in the 2028 Assembly elections. The TTAADC covers two-thirds of the state. Debbarma is pushing for land rights similar to other Sixth Schedule areas. He maintains the party aims for harmony but insists that "legitimate rights, including land rights, must be protected for the indigenous people in tribal council areas."
Comments