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Agartala, Oct 31 (IANS) Amid ‘sour-sweet relationship’ between the BJP and its ally Tipra Motha Party (TMP), the opposition Congress on Friday announced that it will support all the ‘legitimate demands’ of the tribal-based party if it withdraws from the ruling coalition government in Tripura.
Former minister and Congress Working Committee member Sudip Roy Barman said TMP supremo Pradyot Bikram Manikya Debbarma has been repeatedly threatening to leave the BJP-led alliance if the tripartite ‘Tiprasa Accord’ to protect the constitutional rights of tribals is not implemented soon.
Following the signing of the tripartite agreement, the then opposition TMP, which has 13 MLAs, joined the BJP-led coalition government on March 7, 2024, reshaping Tripura’s political landscape.
Two TMP MLAs – Animesh Debbarma and Brishketu Debbarma – were later inducted into the cabinet led by Chief Minister Manik Saha.
“It was promised that the agreement would be implemented within six months. It has been almost 20 months since the agreement was signed, but till now there has been no result. TMP has agitated demanding implementation of the agreement. If they really want the socio-economic development of the tribals then why don’t they come out of the alliance?”
Roy Burman asked. He urged the TMP to leave the ruling coalition and take to the streets to press for immediate implementation of the agreement.
Roy Barman, who was accompanied by Tripura state Congress president Ashish Kumar Saha, said, “If TMP leaves the alliance with BJP, Congress will join hands with the party to meet the economic, social and political demands of the tribals. However, people will not accept the communal-centric politics of TMP.”
The Congress leader criticized both the ruling BJP and the opposition CPI-M-led Left Front for the long delay in passing the 125th Constitution Amendment Bill.
The Bill was drafted to enhance the financial, executive and administrative powers of Tribal Autonomous Councils in the Sixth Schedule areas of the North-Eastern States. There are 10 tribal autonomous bodies in the region – three each in Assam, Mizoram and Meghalaya and one in Tripura.
Roy Burman said, “The previous Left Front government took an unusually long time to send its views to the Center on the 125th Constitution Amendment Bill. Ultimately, it submitted its suggestions in August 2013, just before the general elections to the state assembly.”
Meanwhile, TMP workers injured more than 20 BJP members and workers in series of attacks in different districts. TMP-affiliated Tiprasa Civil Society (TCS), led by TMP MLA Ranjit Debbarma, had observed a 24-hour statewide bandh on October 23 in support of their eight-point demands, including deportation of illegal immigrants.
During the bandh, a section of TMP workers allegedly attacked several people and officials at Santhirbazar in Dhalai district, leaving more than a dozen seriously injured.
The injured included Salema block development officer (BDO) Abhijeet Majumdar, Kamalpur sub-divisional police officer (SDPO) Samudra Debbarma, engineer Animesh Saha and businessman Subrata Paul, all of whom were admitted to hospital with serious injuries. With the politically crucial Tripura Tribal Areas Autonomous District Council (TTAADC) elections due early next year, both the BJP and TMP are working separately to strengthen their influence among the tribal communities.
–IANS
SC/And