Congress MLA Birajit Sinha has sought separate Manipuri and Bishnupriya Manipuri Development Councils in Tripura, citing cultural preservation and developmental concerns, ahead of TTAADC Village Council elections. A seminar and demand committee formation are scheduled in Kailashahar on September 26.
Ahead of the upcoming Village Council elections under the Tripura Tribal Areas Autonomous District Council (TTAADC), Congress MLA Birajit Sinha has demanded the formation of separate Development Councils for the Manipuri and Bishnupriya Manipuri communities in Tripura.
Sinha raised the demand at a press conference held at his residence in Kailashahar on Wednesday. Social workers Chandra Shekhar Sinha and Nil Kishore Sinha, Goladharpur Gram Panchayat Pradhan Kapur Raj Sinha and Gournagar Panchayat Samiti member Deep Sinha were also present at the press meet.
According to Sinha, the Manipuri and Bishnupriya Manipuri communities have been residing in Tripura since the period of the erstwhile princely state and have maintained their distinct cultural traditions. He said that despite their longstanding presence in the state, the communities have not received adequate institutional attention for preserving their cultural heritage and addressing their developmental concerns.
The Congress MLA said the absence of dedicated institutional mechanisms for promoting the communities’ cultural traditions has contributed to younger generations becoming increasingly disconnected from their heritage. He therefore urged the Tripura government to establish separate Manipuri and Bishnupriya Manipuri Development Councils at the earliest.
Sinha said such councils could play a role in promoting the communities’ cultural identity while also addressing issues related to development and welfare. His latest demand follows his earlier advocacy for development councils for different communities in Tripura. In March 2024, Sinha had also called for development councils for various communities, including Manipuri and Bishnupriya Manipuri groups.
As part of the campaign for the demand, a seminar has been scheduled at Unakoti Kalakshetra in Kailashahar on September 26. Sinha said more than 400 representatives from the Manipuri and Bishnupriya Manipuri communities are expected to attend the programme.
The seminar is expected to discuss the proposed Development Councils and their potential role in preserving cultural traditions and addressing community-level development issues. A Development Council Demand Committee will also be formed during the programme, according to Sinha.
Following the seminar, representatives of the proposed committee are expected to approach Tripura Chief Minister and the Governor with a written demand seeking the formation of the two councils.
Sinha also cited the example of Assam while explaining the basis of his demand. He referred to the establishment of a Manipur Development Council in Assam during the tenure of former Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi. Sinha said the council continues to function under its prescribed guidelines.
The MLA further said that after the council was established in Assam, he had met Gogoi and expressed his appreciation for the initiative. He also said he had collected documents concerning the formation of the council in Assam and subsequently discussed the issue with officials of the Tripura government.
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The demand comes ahead of the upcoming TTAADC Village Council elections, adding a political and administrative context to the issue of community representation and development. The proposed September 26 seminar is expected to provide a platform for representatives of the two communities to discuss the demand and decide on further steps.
