A tripartite agreement was signed today between the Centre, the Tripura government and the Tripura Indigenous Progressive Regional Alliance, popularly known as TIPRA Motha and other stakeholders, in New Delhi on Saturday.
Union Home Minister Amit Shah, Chief Minister Dr Manik Saha, TIPRA Motha founder Pradyot Kishore Debbarman, and other senior leaders including opposition leader Animesh Debbarma , TTAADC CEM and others attended the meeting. Senior state government officials including Chief Secretary J K Sinha were also there.
The one page, containing three paragraphs, agreement said a Joint Working Group/ Committee would be formed which would work out and implement the mutually agreed points pertaining to the indigenous people’s history, land rights, political rights, economic developments, identity, culture , language etc.
Further, the agreement made it clear that all stakeholders (read TIPRA Motha) would refrain from resorting to any protest or agitation from the day of signing the agreement.
The agreement was signed by Pradyot Kishore Debbarman, Bijoy Hrangkhawl Animesh Debbarma and for state government, Chief Secretary of Tripura J K Sinha and Additional Secretary(NE) MHA P K Goyel.
Meantime, Party supporters who are camping at Hatai Kator (Bar Mura) – the place where Pradyot Kishore launched his ‘fast unto death – burst into celebrations.
However, Pradyot Kishore in his interview to a private TV channel did not apear much happy and excited. He preferred to restrain himself from saying that he had won the battle rather he said it was only a step forward and hard works still would have to be done.
Modality Committee redux?
It may be mentioned here that during IPFT agitation prior to 2018 Assembly polls in Tripura, under late N C Debbarma also one such Modality committee was once formed. Then the papers were more elaborate and detailed–the fate of the committee is not now known.
