The tribal wing of CPIM, Gana Mukti Parishad (GMP) submitted a mass deputation to the Teliamura Twimadhu Sub-ZonalOffice in support of their seven-point demands. The event commenced at approximately 11:30 a.m. with a procession and a road meeting organized by GMP in the Twimadhu area. The procession started from the field adjacent to the Chakmaghat Barrage and proceeded through the Twimadhu market, concluding with a road meeting in front of Eco Park.
The delegation was led by prominent leaders, including Naresh Jamatia, president of GMP’s Central Committee, Hemanta Kumar Jamatia, a member of the Central Executive Committee, Arun Deb Barma, Secretary of the Divisional Committee, and Subhash Nath, Secretary of the Teliamura Sub-Division Committee of CPIM. Several leaders from other left-democratic organizations also participated.
Presided over by Yogendra Debbarma, the road meeting featured speeches by Subhash Nath, Hemanta Kumar Jamatia, and Naresh Jamatia, who criticized the current government for its alleged failures in fulfilling people’s expectation and welfare.
Naresh Jamatia lamented the lack of democracy in Tripura, pointing to the absence of a terror-free democratic environment and existence of widespread unemployment, particularly in rural and hilly areas. He noted that during the previous Left Front government, markets were bustling with activity, but the current economic hardships have significantly diminished people’s purchasing power.
He highlighted the severe deprivation faced by the state’s tribal communities, citing instances where tribal mothers were compelled to ‘sell’ their children. According to Jamatia, the root cause of these issues lies in the policies of the BJP-IPFT government, which he accused of serving the interests of the wealthy while neglecting the tribal and working-class populations.
Jamatia also criticized the BJP for failing to fulfill promises, including the establishment of Tipra Land. He accused the government of introducing policies, such as the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA), that threaten the identity and livelihood of tribal communities.
Comparing Tripura’s situation to Gujarat, he pointed out that despite having a significant tribal population, Gujarat lacks a separate autonomous district council or recognition of tribal languages under Narendra Modi’s leadership.
Jamatia further criticized the BJP-IPFT government for escalating prices of essential commodities and for depriving people of their democratic rights. He noted that village council members, once elected through public votes, are now denied this fundamental right under the current administration. He accused the government of avoiding elections to suppress dissent and prevent exposure of their unfulfilled promises.
According to Jamatia, the IPFT leaders, now in alliance with BJP, have abandoned their demands for Tipra Land, leaving common tribal people disillusioned.
The road meeting concluded with a strong call for tribal communities to unite under the banner of Gana Mukti Parishad and the Left Front to resist what Jamatia described as deceit and deprivation. Later, a delegation, including Arun Debbarma, Dhananjay Debbarma, Anjali Debbarma, Chandrakanta Debbarma, and Ratan Kishore Jamatia, met with the Sub-Zonal Officer to formally submit the demands.
The seven-point demands include: organizing immediate village committee elections, giving more power to the ADC, including the Kok Borok language in the eighth schedule, providing 200 days of work and Rs. 600 wages under MGNREGA, filling all government vacancies for the employment of the unemployed, repairing roads in TTAADC areas, ensuring water supply and uninterrupted electricity, and arranging necessary teachers in government schools, among others.
(Tripura, Northeast)
