GUWAHATI: The Indigenous People’s Front of Twipra (IPFT), an ally in the BJP-led Tripura government, has threatened to launch an intensive movement if an Assam-like National Register of Citizens is not implemented in the border state.
The tribal-based party, which has been spearheading the demand for NRC since a long time along with other indigenous parties, is however sticking to the cut-off date of March 25, 1971 for preparation of the citizens register.
“We want 1971 as the cut-off year unlike some of the other tribal parties which are demanding 1949 and 1951 as the cut-off years on the basis of which the NRC has to be prepared. Tripura has bore the brunt of illegal influx for too long and if such a citizen’s register is not implemented, we will be compelled to launch an intensive movement,” IPFT spokesperson, Mangal Debbarma told The Shillong Times on Tuesday.
Ever since Assam had published the complete draft NRC on July 30 this year which saw over 40 lakh not figuring in the draft, the other northeastern states, apprehending influx, have been demanding safeguards, including mechanisms such as ILP (inner line permit). In Tripura, tribal parties such as the Indigenous Nationalist Party of Tripura and the Tripura People’s Front too have been demanding a citizen’s register on the lines of Assam.
The Tripura People’s Front had infact petitioned the Supreme Court on NRC implementation and the apex court had responded by notifying the Centre and Election Commission on the same on Monday.
The petitioner have submitted that the NRC was imperative for identifying illegal immigrants, deleting their names from the voters’ list and finally deporting them from India to restore the “socio-economic, socioc-ultural and socio-political equilibrium of Tripura.” It has also prayed for setting up foreigners tribunals for deportation of the foreigners besides calling for sealing of the Tripura-Bangladesh border.
“According to the population census of 2011, tribal people comprised just 31 per cent of the state’s total population of about 37lakh. Unofficially, we reckon the percentage of tribal people is even lower currently. This is an area of grave concern and if not addressed soon will force us to take the path of agitation, ” Debbarma said.
Tripura chief minister, Biplab Kumar Deb however had in an apparent shift of stance last week said during a conclave in New Delhi that the state would “go for NRC” if the update exercise being carried out in Assam was successful. Earlier in August, Deb had said that there was no demand for a citizens register on the lines of NRC in Assam as “everything is in order in Tripura and everyone has valid papers.”