Pradyot Kishore Deb Burman, the former chief of the opposition TIPRA Motha party, said achieving the ‘Ek Tripura, Shrestha Tripura’ goal would be impossible without the holistice development of Tiprasas – indigenous people of Tripura.
Speaking at the annual Council of Tiprasa Hoda conference held at Agartala Town Hall on Thursday, Deb Barman emphasized the urgent need to bring these historically deprived communities into the national mainstream.
He asserted that the Tiprasas in Tripura must unite with a single, resounding voice in their fight for basic rights that have eluded them for decades. Commending the role played by the Council of Tiprasa Hoda during the discussion with the Central Government, he acknowledged their efforts to address the concerns of indigenous tribes, emphasizing that their mission was driven by a commitment to the community’s well-being, not political power.
In a plea, he called upon the Council of Hoda to fortify their collective strength, suggesting that they need not chase after political parties. Instead, he said that once the indigenous tribes were empowered and united, political parties would actively seek their support.
Elaborating further, Deb Burman claimed that, historically, indigenous communities and tribes in Tripura had been controlled by political parties. However, the situation is strikingly different in several other North Eastern States – he cited examples from states such as Nagaland, Mizoram, and Meghalaya, where tribes have been the driving force behind political parties, with the community’s interests taking precedence over party politics. He underscored that when parties dominate and dictate the affairs of these communities, development is stifled.
He further stressed that while the Indian government and political establishments might form short-term alliances for power, it is imperative to comprehend the deprivation faced by the Tiprasas in Tripura, as well as in other states, to foster national development. Deb Burman emphasized that the vision of “Ek Bharat Srestha Bharat” or “Ek Tripura Srestha Tripura” cannot be realized without the holistic development of the Tiprasas.
He, however, did not talk about the outcome of his talks with the Central government especially Union Home Minister Amit Shah.
