Centre must call Indigenous groups of Tripura to discuss Greater Tipraland: Pradyot Deb Barma

TIPRA Motha chief and royal scion Pradyot Manikya Deb Barman had demanded that the Centre if interested must call the TIPRA MOTHA and other groups of indigenous individuals for talks on the Greater Tipraland issue. Pradyot Deb Barman said that the TIPRA MOTHA is clear in its position on the Tipraland demand. The TIPRA MOTHA chairman said that it is ready to sit across the table and discuss the issue with the Centre in a transparent manner. Pradyot said that if talks prevail then it would not seek for financial packages or any other posts, but would rather demand for a constitutional settlement. The TIPRA MOTHA chairman is of the view that if the Centre can talk to NSCN-IM, then it must also talk to a legitimate political party.

When asked if he was working for the sake of a certain section of society, Pradyot deb Barman reacted and said that he is not against a particular community. Ruling out any communal divide, Deb Barman said that his entire idea of demanding constitutional right for the indigenous people, does not mean denying any rights to other communities. The royal scion also questioned the BJP as to why it is still in ties with the IPFT, when the latter took to shutdown and blockades in support of a Greater Tipraland. Deb Barman maintained that it was wrong to label him as an anti-national when he raised the Tipraland issue.

Pradyot Deb Barman maintained that he has never indulged in politics of religion. THe TIPRA MOTHA chief said that there has been no attack on any community in indigenous tribal areas, whereas the scenario was totally different even in capital city Agartala. Deb Barman said that there is a divide due to wrong policies taken up by the Centre in the last 73 years.

Pradyot Deb Barman reiterated that the TIPRA MOTHA will align with only those political parties who back the Tipraland demand.

Meanwhile, the TIPRA MOTHA chief alleged that the Centre has a step motherly attitude towards Autonomous District Councils not only in Tripura but also across entire Northeast with a few exceptions pertaining to Assam. Deb Barman alleged that the TTAADC had failed to receive adequate funds from the centre as well as the state government.