Pradyot Bikram Manikya Deb Barman, the leader of the Tipra Motha Party (TMP), has declared that his party will initiate a protest to press for constitutional solutions to the problems faced by the tribal community in Tripura. Deb Barman, a former royal scion of Tripura, expressed his disappointment with Union Home Minister Amit Shah and Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma for their failure to appoint an interlocutor and address the concerns of the tribals.
In a video message, Deb Barman emphasized that his fight was for a constitutional resolution and not for personal gain. He revealed that he had sold his royal properties in Kolkata to fund the agitations, stating that he did not seek any government position but aimed to secure the future of the marginalized tribals.
Addressing the issue of party leaders inclined towards joining the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), Deb Barman remarked, “You may join the BJP, but never complain about your deprivations.” He accused Tripura Chief Minister Manik Saha and other BJP leaders of neglecting the Tripura Tribal Areas Autonomous District Council (TTAADC) by withholding adequate funds from the constitutional body.
Despite assurances from Shah and Sarma regarding the appointment of an interlocutor and granting greater autonomy to the tribals, Deb Barman claimed that no progress had been made even after several months had passed. The TMP had previously announced an indefinite hunger strike in March, demanding a response from the central government by March 27. They subsequently held a meeting with Sarma in Guwahati on March 29.
While Sarma declined to comment on Deb Barman’s announcement, the TMP’s demands have faced opposition from various political parties, including the ruling BJP, CPI-M led Left parties, Congress, and the Trinamool Congress.
Having won 13 seats and securing 19.69% of the votes in the Tripura assembly polls held in February, the TMP has emerged as the second-largest party after the BJP. The party, which captured the politically significant TTAADC in April 2021, advocates for the elevation of the autonomous body to a ‘Greater Tipraland State’ or a separate state status, citing Articles 2 and 3 of the Constitution.
Earlier, ahead of the Tripura Assembly Speaker election on March 24, Deb Barman had stated that the Union Home Minister assured him of appointing an interlocutor by March 27 to explore constitutional solutions for tribal autonomy and socio-economic development. Furthermore, during a meeting with Deb Barman and TMP leaders, Shah had indicated that an interlocutor would be appointed within three months, similar to the approach taken for Nagaland.
Recognizing the significance of tribal votes, the BJP had even invited TMP leaders to join the BJP-led ministry and reserved three ministerial berths for the tribal party.
The TMP’s decision to initiate a protest underscores the growing frustration among tribal communities in Tripura, who seek concrete actions and constitutional measures to address their long-standing grievances. As the political landscape unfolds, it remains to be seen how the government responds to the demands put forth by the TMP and whether a resolution can be reached to address the concerns of the tribal population in Tripura. (Edited)
