In a bid to protect the rights of indigenous populations in Tripura, a delegation from Pradesh Adivasi Congress, headed by Chairman Shabd Kumar Jamatia, presented a formal appeal to Chief Secretary J K Sinha, calling for an immediate cessation of the implementation of the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA) within the state.
The delegation, which included former state Congress president Diba Chandra Hrangkhawl, former minister Manindra Reang, along with Ashok Debbarma and Kirant Tripura, expressed concerns regarding the potential alteration of the demographic landscape if the CAA were to be enforced in Tripura.
The Congress emphasized the potential ramifications of CAA implementation, fearing a shift in reservation statuses and a consequential alteration of Tripura’s demographic fabric. The memorandum submitted to the Chief Secretary highlighted the state’s unique geographical and demographic landscape, surrounded by Bangladesh on three sides and inhabited significantly by indigenous communities.
Prior to the CAA’s enactment in 2019, the cutoff year for Indian citizenship eligibility was 1971. However, the CAA extended this to December 31, 2014, potentially allowing for an influx of individuals from Bangladesh, Pakistan, and Afghanistan under the pretext of religious persecution.
