GUWAHATI: Opposition Congress in Tripura believes that the Indigenous People’s Front of Tripura (IPFT), an ally in the BJP-led government, should come out of the alliance and fight for the cause of the indigenous people of the state.
At least five indigenous parties had called a dawn-to-dusk bandh in the tribal council area of Tripura on Saturday to protest against the recent lathicharge and firing by security personnel on Citizenship (Amendment) Bill protesters at Madhabbari (West Tripura district) during which at least six persons were injured.
“IPFT should come out of the alliance, just like how Asom Gana Parishad had done in Assam (in protest against the Cabinet’s approval to the Bill and subsequent passage in Lok Sabha). Even as it (break-up) may not affect the ruling BJP’s composition, they at least take a stand and fight for the cause of their people,” Tripura Congress spokesperson, Tapas Dey told The Shillong Times on Sunday.
The BJP-IPFT combine came to power early last year, winning 43 seats in the 60-member Tripura Assembly. IPFT currently has eight MLAs in the House.
IPFT spokesperson, Mangal Debbarma, however asserted that the main demand of the party is the creation of a separate state, ‘Twipraland’, for which the BJP-led government at the Centre had agreed to prior to the pre-poll alliance.
“As of now, we have not decided anything in regard to the alliance with BJP. While we strongly condemn the firing on protesters and vehemently oppose the Citizenship (Amendment) Bill, 2016, our main demand is the creation of a separate state. If this demand is not fulfilled, we will certainly consider breaking the alliance,” Debbarma said.
The Congress leader also informed that despite the party being in charge of the tribal welfare department, nothing tangible could be seen so far.
“The party leaders were very vocal on the vacant posts for the tribal people prior to the Assembly polls last year. However, as many as 20,000 reserved posts for Scheduled Tribes still remain vacant. They are not doing anything and we don’t know whether it is to do with their ministerial berths in the Cabinet or not,” Dey said.
The Tripura Tribal Areas Autonomous District Council (TTAADC) comprises two-third of the state’s territory and is home to indigenous communities, who constitute about 31 per cent of the state’s population.
Taking a dig at the ruling party, he said, “People were earlier tired of CPI (M) rule in the state for so many years. No they are disillusioned with BJP….their honeymoon is almost over, we feel.”
