In Delhi, TIPRA Motha’s Pradyot says Tripura tribals willing to give Centre ‘last chance’ on ‘constitutional solution’

Pradyot said there are people in the Tripura BJP who, like Ashok Bhattacharya, opposed the call for “constitutional solution”, even though the Central Government, Home Minister Amit Shah, and others were in favour.

The demonstration was officially spearheaded by David Murasingh, who happens to be a close aide to Pradyot, and a youth leader of the TIPRA Motha.

“In 1982, PM Indira Gandhi was ready to give the ADC to Tripura, but a Congress leader, Ashok Bhattacharya, said ‘rokto dibo kintu ADC debona’ (blood would be given but not an ADC). PM Indira Gandhi overruled him and gave Tripura its ADC. In Agartala, there are some leaders like Ashok Bhattacharya. Now, Home Minister Amit Shah, like former PM Indira Gandhi, will have to implement the Tiprasa Accord by overruling them or else, David walked 2,500 km from Tripura to Delhi for nothing,” Pradyot said.

He added that if needed, he was ready to go to jail but would not compromise in his fight for tribal welfare.

Stating that he didn’t join the demonstration as a representative of the TIPRA Motha, Pradyot said, “We are giving Delhi a last chance. We want to tell them to take Tiprasa and people from Northeast India seriously. We are honest and simple, but it doesn’t mean we are scared of anyone. Just because we are honest, we are poor, it doesn’t mean we are weak,” he said.

In a terse warning, Pradyot also said his party was built on subscriptions as low as Rs 10 from poor people in villages of Tripura and said they trusted him and that he had trusted the Central Government in turn. If the Centre failed to keep its promise of a constitutional solution, his commitment would be to the people.

2,500-km march from Agartala to Delhi

In reference to David Murasingh’s completion of a 2,500-km march from Agartala to Delhi, he said, “They said he can’t do it. When he reached Bihar, they said that he would not be able to cross Bihar. When they reached UP, they said that he cannot enter Delhi. When he reached Delhi, those five or six people said it’s a drama. If you can’t support, at least don’t joke. When you (tribals) joke about your dofa (community), then some other people end up winning,” he said.

David Murasingh said that the indigenous people are facing injustice in Tripura. The padyatra started with the demand for the immediate implementation of the Tripartite Tirasa Accord signed between the Central government, the Tripura Government, and the TIPRA Motha last year, immediate deportation of illegal immigrants from Tripura, and constitutional recognition and autonomy for “Greater Tipraland”.

The Tipra Motha, which started in 2021 with the slogan of a separate “Greater Tipraland” state, greater autonomy of tribals in the tribal council areas, direct funding for the TTAADC, among other things, later changed its core political agenda and proposed a “Greater Tipraland” with ADC areas and a few tribal villages outside it, but was open to suggestions from the Centre on matters other than the statehood demand.

Manipur needs healing: NPP’s James Sangma

The optics of regional politics have largely depended on national political parties until now, and partly on the regional Bengal politics, as far as the Left parties are concerned. However, Pradyot’s posturing, especially with former Meghalaya minister and National Peoples’ Party (NPP) working president James Sangma, former BJP spokesperson and Nagaland MLA Mmhonlumo Kikon, among others, shows he is open to a larger political front that works on regional dynamics, even if with national parties.

This is not the first time Pradyot has roped in regional leaders in his events, either. Part of the equation might have to do with Pradyot’s camaraderie with the family of Conrad Sangma, or with the fact that he has direct access to almost all major leaders of political parties interested in the Northeast region. If a tribal front were to open in the region over its own political demands, it might result in a paradigm shift.

James Sangma said, “I came here to express solidarity for David Murasingh. When we need you in Meghalaya, I hope that you will extend your cooperation. One thing is certain: we need unity. So, we all need to be united. Today, there are many challenges in the Northeast. No solution has yet come for Manipur, even after one and a half years. Manipur needs healing today, and for this, we have to be united. I want to tell you that when the time comes, we will raise our voice loudly”.

Pradyot’s sister Kriti Devi Debbarma, who is the BJP MP for East Tripura, attended the Jantar Mantar and said, “There is a long way to go. You all put me here. You have trusted me. I will keep trying and keep fighting for our rights. I won’t let you down. Your message today… I will take your message forward. Whatever has to be done has to be done. I am here with you and will always be with you. I will keep supporting whatever is right”.

‘We believe in living and letting others live’

Stating that despite having had an absolute monarchy in Tripura prior to 1949, Pradyot said the state had democratic and secular values as the erstwhile Manikya kings helped make the Gedu Miah mosque as well as Mariamnagar Church.

“In the 1971 Bangladesh Liberation War, we helped them (East Pakistan refugees) and welcomed them. People of Tripura helped Sheikh Mujibar Rahman at Agartala. We believe in living and letting others live,” he said.

Later, speaking about illegal immigration, he said, “If you (Central Government) want to give shelter (to refugees), why would Tripura be overburdened? If you can’t find a solution to illegal immigration, we have a solution… give us a separate state. If you won’t form a separate state and keep the illegal immigrants at bay, how will it help!”.

Citing the Tiprasa Accord, Pradyot said Amit Shah had signed it and assured the tribals of a solution in six months, but 20 months had passed with no solution in sight yet. He added that tribals of Tripura were still ready to trust the Centre, but that it would be something like a last chance for the Government.

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