Senior most member of the Tripura council of minister and also president of Indigenous People’s Front of Tripura (IPFT) Revenue Minister Narendra Chandra Debbarma breathed his last in the AGMC on Sunday. He was 80 and four sons, three daughters and wife.
State government announced three-day state mourning as a mark of respect to Revenue Minister. National Flags will be flown at half-mast during the mourning period across the State and there will be no Official entertainment programme. Apart from that, Monday has been declared a public holiday in the state.Debbarma, who had the ministerial portfolios of Revenue and Forest Departments, suffered a severe brain stroke on December 30 and was admitted to the AGMC.
After critical surgeries he went into coma and was put in the ventilator. He passed at around 2.30 pm.
Debbarma was virtually bedridden with old age ailments for the last few months and was seldom seen in political activities. He used to run the IPFT’s political show from home only—that also affected seriously the IPFT in the political spectrum of the poll bound state. In fact the IPFT’s political future had become bleak as the TIPRA Motha and BJP’s Janajati Morcha went to sway the tribal politics of the state.
Debbarma- a former Indian Information Service Officer who retired as Station Director of the All India Radio –was an important political figure as far as indigenous politics was concerned. He also played a key role in forging the BJP-IPFT alliance and form the government in 2018 effectively managing and setting the vexed Tipraland issue- which was his own coin- in the backburner and ran the government smoothly as a coalition partner.
Experienced, well read with deep knowledge of the indigenous people’s sentiments and also of the non-tribal people’s issues his demise is certain to create a serious vacuum in the state politics where communal overtures are now being played by some leaders to sway the indigenous people. His demise has come a irreparable loss as now virtually none is left among the regional parties who can make balance statements and practice a balance politics.
Chief Minister Manik Saha, Rajya Sabha MP and former Chief Minister Biplab Kumar Deb, BJP president Rajib Bhattacharjee, Opposition Leader Manik Sarkar, CPM state secretary Jitendra Choudhury and other leaders condoled the death.
Governor Satyadeo Narain Arya condoled the demise of the veteran Minister and said, NC Debbarma was an experienced leader and held his position in his party battling with his critics. He also said, NC Debbarma’s death marked the end of an era.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi also conveyed his condolences on the death of NC Debbarma.
He tweeted, “Shri NC Debbarma ji will be remembered by the coming generations as a hardworking grassroots leader who always worked for the well-being of people, he made a rich contribution to Tripura’s progress. Pained by his demise. Condolences to his family and supporters. Om Shanti”.
BJP National president JP Nadda also shared his condolences on the demise of the veteran tribal leader of Tripura.
In his twitter post, Nadda wrote, “Saddened to hear about the passing away of N C Debbarma ji, senior Cabinet Minister in Tripura government. He’ll forever be remembered for the role he played in the upliftment of the people of Tripura and its progress”.
