In an attempt to scale up pressure on ruling BJP-IPFT, indigenous wing of CPIM in Tripura, Upajati Gana Mukti Parishad (GMP) has pressed for passing the 125th constitutional amendment Bill in Parliament in this session for the benefits of indigenous people of Tripura and other States. GMP leaders raised this demand in Agartala on Tuesday. GMP leaders also alleged the ruling alliance has failed miserably to fulfill the aspirations of the tribal people and also held it responsible for the rapidly increasing crimes across the state.
GMP President and former MP from the East Tripura parliamentary constituency Jitendra Chowdhury said if the ruling alliance was really sensitive to the causes of the indigenous people, they would have pressed the centre for 125th constitutional amendment Bill that was still stuck in the drafting stage.
“During the 2018 assembly elections, tall claims from BJP-IPFT succeeded them to garner votes. However, now the voters are quite smart and can smell the rat. No attempts are being made from the BJP or the IPFT regarding the 125th amendment Bill that directly deals with life and livelihood of indigenous people living in the ADC areas. This is not about Tripura only, it empowers all the ADCs scattered in all North Eastern states”, said Chowdhury.
The GMP had also forwarded a letter to Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Tuesday explaining the problems due to the unprecedented delay. “The 6th schedule was actually designed to protect the land rights of tribal communities but now the situation is radically different. People from remote areas also want to have a life that qualified all the basic amenities if compared to urban way of living. For that matter, this amendment is crucial”, said Chowdhury.
He also said, “Despite the Bill being scheduled to be placed before 2019 elections it has been deferred and sent to the parliamentary standing committee. The standing committee has filed its recommendations but since then there have been no talks regarding the issue. The parliamentary session which is slated to begin on September 14 must pass the bill and that is our demand”.
Former CEM to TTAADC and GMP’s general secretary Radhacharan Debbarma on the other hand alleged that day by day the state was being converted into a safe haven for the anti-social elements. “The situation is so pathetic that people are being robbed, houses ransacked, women are facing molestation in broad daylight. It sounds to be a wakeup call for the people and people are gradually raising their voices”, Debbarma said.
