TIPRA Motha and IPFT began their two-day sit –in demonstrations at Jantar Mantar in New Delhi to press for the demand of separate Tipraland.
Though IPFT and TIPRA Motha differ on the character of the proposed separate Tipraland – IPFT, a ruling party and ally of the BJP, demands only ‘Tripraland’ within the state of Tripura, TIPRA Motha on the other hand wants ‘Greater Tipraland’ with geographical areas of Assam, Mizoram and parts of Bangladesh even where Tripuri people reside- both the parties seek to put up a joint face regarding a separate land for the indigenous people of the state.
Sources from New Delhi said, there were about 1000 activists from both parties led by Tripura Tribal Welfare Minister and IPFT leader Mevar Kumar Jamatia and TIPRA Motha leader Pradyot Kishore Debbarman
Sources said Congress’ Rajya Sabha Member Jairam Ramesh and Shiv Sena’s Deputy Leader in the Rajya Sabha Priyanka Chaturvedi took part.
TIPRA’s spokesman Kamal Koloi said that they earlier planned to meet union Home Minister Amit Shah to apprise him of their demand but Prime Minister’s Office indicated that PM Narendra Modi “has expressed his desire to meet the tribal leaders”.
Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal might come to the demonstration site on Wednesday to express his solidarity, Koloi said.
.Most of the national parties including the BJP, CPI-M and the Congress, have been opposing the “Greater Tipraland” demand, while the demand triggered huge doubts and fears in the mixed populated Tripura.
“Under the ‘Greater Tipraland’ concept, a powerful council would be constituted for the all-round socio economic development of the indigenous tribals residing in the eight northeastern states and the neighbouring countries, including Bangladesh. Such councils exist in European countries. We want to resolve the tribals’ basic problems permanently,” Deb Barman had earlier told a news agency.
