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The Twipra Students’ Federation (TSF) on Saturday announced a 12-hour strike across different regions of the state on August 28 demanding Roman script for Kokborok language and an amendment of Article 125 of the Indian Constitution.
Kokborok is the lingua franca of a majority of the 19 tribal communities of Tripura. While the language has a long history, is recognised as an official language in the state under its three-language policy and is accepted as a medium of communication by other tribal communities of the state, it does not have a script.
Speaking to the reporters at the Agartala Press Club, TSF general secretary Hamal Jamatia said, “We submitted a memorandum to the state government two months ago, but haven’t gotten any positive reply from them to date.”
The strike will commence from 6 am at Hatai Kotor, Hezamara, Bishramganj, Manughat and Champaknagar.
“This is a people’s movement. We appeal to different social organizations to join it to make it successful,” Jamatia added.
In June, the state’s opposition party TIPRA Motha’s students’ organization TISF led a protest over a similar demand. During the stir, nearly 20 people, including five security personnel, were left injured. The incident occurred a week after the Roman Script for Kokborok Choba, an umbrella organisation of 56 tribal cultural and social organisations, had threatened to launch an “aggressive movement” if their demands were not met.
