A political mobilisation around indigenous rights took place in Agartala on Sunday as the Indigenous Peoples Front of Tripura (IPFT) and allied organisations observed Sixth Schedule Day. The programme combined the commemoration with a renewed call for Tipraland statehood.
Key Takeaways:
- IPFT and allied organisations held a rally and public gathering in Agartala to observe Sixth Schedule Day.
- The programme renewed the demand for Tipraland statehood.
- IPFT leaders said the demand seeks to protect the rights and interests of indigenous people in Tripura.
IPFT Holds Sixth Schedule Day Programme
The Indigenous Peoples Front of Tripura (IPFT) and its allied organisations organised a rally and public gathering in Agartala on Sunday as part of the observance of Sixth Schedule Day.
The programme also featured a renewed demand for the creation of Tipraland as a separate state. Party leaders, workers and supporters participated in the mobilisation.
The programme was held at Mara Chowmuhani. Before the public gathering, IPFT supporters took out a rally from the area near North Gate.
The procession passed through several parts of Agartala before reaching Mara Chowmuhani. Leaders and supporters later assembled at the venue for the public meeting.
Tipraland Statehood Demand Raised
Addressing the gathering, IPFT leaders reiterated the demand for Tipraland statehood. They linked the demand to the protection of the rights, interests and identity of indigenous people in Tripura.
The leaders also highlighted the significance of the Sixth Schedule in the context of indigenous communities and their demands for greater constitutional protection.
The programme therefore combined the observance of Sixth Schedule Day with the political demand for a separate Tipraland state.
IPFT Leaders Join Rally
IPFT president Prem Kumar Reang attended the programme along with Tripura minister Shukla Charan Noatia. Other party leaders, workers and supporters also joined the rally and public gathering.
The mobilisation has brought the Tipraland demand back into focus in Agartala. The issue remains a significant part of IPFT political activities and its campaign on indigenous rights.
The Sixth Schedule Day programme also provided the party and its allied organisations with a platform to reiterate their position on statehood and constitutional safeguards for indigenous communities.
Enewstime Desk Perspective
IPFT, an ally of the ruling BJP, was once a formidable political force in the tribal-dominated areas of Tripura, before the emergence of the Pradyot Kishore-led TIPRA Motha.
In the 2018 Assembly elections, the IPFT joined hands with the BJP and played a crucial role in consolidating tribal votes. The alliance helped the BJP-led combine make significant gains in areas where the CPI(M) had traditionally enjoyed strong support.
However, the death of IPFT founder and veteran leader NC Debbarma, coupled with the emergence of TIPRA Motha, significantly weakened the party influence among tribal voters.
In the 2023 Assembly elections, the IPFT managed to win only one seat. Its electoral decline became even more evident in the Tripura Tribal Areas Autonomous District Council (TTAADC) elections held this year, when the party failed to win a single seat.
