Tripura tribal party toughening stand on statehood demand

FROM A CORRESPONDENT

Agartala, June 1: The Indigenous People’s Front of Twipra (IPFT) which earlier indicated of keeping its door open for alliance either with BJP or the Trimool Congress and may consider keeping their demand for a separate state in abeyance has back stepped and ruled out any compromise on its core demand.

“Proposal for alliance with any party may be considered only after they clarify their stand on our core demand Twipraland,” said N C Debbarma, president IPFT.

“Though no formal proposal has came so far, the parties are sending sigls through emissaries,” he earlier said on the basis of which the matter was came for discussion in the party central committee meet held here on May 28 and 29.

However, after discussing on changing political situation of the state the central committee adopted a resolution that said appropriate decision will be taken at an appropriate time.

Rather the party has decided to intensify its agitation on their demands and to go on with their road and rail blocked movement for 24 hours on June 22 as decided earlier. It also decided to observe Twipraland demand day on August 23 through organising rallies and meeting in Agartala.

The two day meeting has also reviewed the outcome of the election of 587 village committees and felt the need to further strengthening of its organisation. Accordingly it has reconstituted its central advisory committee and the central executive committee. It has also brought some changes in the party constitution.

Meanwhile, the Indigenous tiolist Party of Tripura (INPT), another regiol party having good influence over the 30 per cent tribal population of the state has opposed the demand of separate statehood.

Bijoy Kumar Hrangkhawal, president of the INPT, recently described the separate statehood demand as unrealistic and urged the tribal youths not to run after the mirage. He even alleged that by raising such demand they are diverting the attention of the people from their dire day to day need of employment, education, health care etc.