CPI(M) state secretary Gautam Das said the demand is irrelevant as it is all about a land map that covers Tripura and some areas of Assam, Mizoram and Bangladesh
Akhtar, Agartola: The demand for a ‘Greater Tipraland’ is gaining momentum nowadays. Tipraland is the name of a proposed state in India for the indigenous people in the tribal areas of Tripura.
Some 1,500 activists and supporters of two major Tripura-based tribal regional political parties have launched a massive campaign in favour of their demand at Delhi’s Jantar Mantar. Earlier, the CPI(M) opposed such a demand citing security concern.
CPI(M) state Secretary Gautam Das recently said, “The demand of Greater Tipraland could have created a serious law order situation in the State. The demand is irrelevant as it is all about a land map that covers Tripura and some areas of Assam, Mizoram and even Bangladesh”.
The northeastern state’s royal scion and chairman of the largest regional political outfit of the state, TIRPA or Tipraha Indigenous Progressive Regional Alliance is at the forefront of the move.
He has been able to rope in ruling BJP’s ally, Indigenous People’s Front of Tripura (IPFT), to join hm.
Hundreds of members of the two tribal-based parties took part in the demonstrations where Congress MP Jairam Ramesh and Shiv Sena’s Deputy Leader in the Rajya Sabha Priyanka Chaturvedi took part. Aam Aadmi Party MP Sanjay Singh also visited the rally at Jantar Mantar.
The Congress, Shiv Sena and AAP have shown their support and solidarity to this protest.
Pradyot had earlier has time and again spoken for all-round socio-economic development and protection of traditional life, their culture and customs.
“Under the ‘Greater Tipraland’ concept, a powerful council would be constituted for the all-round socio-economic development of the indigenous tribal residing in the eight north-eastern states and neighbouring countries, including Bangladesh. Such councils exist in European countries. We want to resolve the tribals’ basic problems permanently,” Deb Barman told media.
The protesters are demanding that the centre commits to bifurcating Tripura by 2026, when a delimitation exercise is likely to be carried out. “If we don’t get Greater Tipraland or a separate state for sons of the soil of Tripura, our future will be at stake,” he said.
Debburman’s party, TIPRA, has adopted the demand for a separate state as their main poll plank. They are in power at the Tripura Tribal Area Autonomous District Council (TTAADC) , a Sixth Schedule council for socio-economic development of tribals, and is considered as a mini-legislative assembly of Tripura in terms of its jurisdiction and constitutional power.
Tripura will go to polls in 2023. Trinamul Congress is looking to make inroads in the BJP-ruled state.
 state secretary Gautam Das said the demand is irrelevant as it is all about a land map that covers Tripura and some areas of Assam, Mizoram and Banglades){kind=link}