After mystery dash to Delhi by Tripura top brass, TIPRA Motha chief says ‘historic accord coming today’

The TIPRA Motha leader also said that all stakeholders in the tribal development process would be involved in a discussion after the accord is signed to chalk out the future course of action.

Pradyot Kishore has been under increasing pressure from his constituents over the Tipraland issue, on the basis of which his fledgling party rose to the position of the second-largest in the Assembly in the elections held last year.

Questioned by reporters over the reason for his Delhi visit at the airport, CM Saha only smiled and said, “No agenda.”

Leader of the Opposition Animesh Debbarma, who accompanied Saha, said, “I have no knowledge of what it is about, but I got a phone call to reach Delhi. Some meeting will be held there… I can’t say anything else now… No agenda was set.”

Tripura Tribal Areas Autonomous District Council (TTAADC) chairperson Jagadish Debbarma said the meeting may be with Union Home Minister Amit Shah.

Apart from them, ministers Bikash Debbarma (Tribal Welfare) and Shukla Charan Noatia (Minorities Welfare); TTAADC chief executive member Purna Chandra Jamatia; and TIPRA Motha MLA Brishaketu Debbarma left for Delhi with the CM. Tripura Chief Secretary J K Sinha is also not in the state.

Noatia said he was informed by the CM about the urgent visit, after the Budget had been tabled in the Assembly on Friday.

Tribal Welfare Minister Bikash claimed the leaders were travelling for BJP programmes to the Capital, adding: “If there is any question of any discussion or agreement, you shall know. We want everyone to work together for ‘Ek Tripura, Srestha Tripura’… We have Modiji now, there is Modi guarantee.”

Bikash also said: “We want Maharaj (TIPRA Motha chief Pradyot) to come with us and work together for the betterment of Tiprasa.”

These comments also assume significance given the increasing talk that the TIPRA Motha may join the BJP alliance in Tripura, which would boost the national party ahead of the Lok Sabha polls.

Pradyot had launched his fast-unto-death on February 27, over both the demand for a separate Greater Tipraland state and for autonomy for the TTAADC. With nearly 30,000 supporters gathered to hear him, Pradyot had started with a Kshatriya Puja, but barely 15 minutes into his speech, had a phone passed to him by LoP Animesh. He took the call, and then announced dramatically: “I have to go to Delhi. Got a call.”

Even as supporters started blowing conch shells as a sign of a victory, Pradyot told them to return home, adding that he was suspending but not calling off the hunger strike, unless he got a positive written assurance on his demands.

“Don’t celebrate too fast… Delhi has called. I’ll go, I’ll talk. But I will not compromise,” he said.