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Modi, Shah Committed to Tribal Rights in Tripura, Says TMP Chief

Tipra Motha Party chief Pradyot Debbarma asserts that Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Home Minister Amit Shah are personally committed to upholding the constitutional rights of Tripura's tribal communities through a tripartite agreement. The TMP, which governs the Tripura Tribal Areas Autonomous District Council, joined the BJP-led state government in March 2024 after signing the accord. However, the alliance has seen recent strains and clashes between party workers ahead of crucial tribal council elections scheduled for March. All major political parties are intensifying efforts to woo the tribal electorate, which constitutes about one-third of the state's population.

Key Points: Modi, Shah Back Tribal Rights in Tripura: TMP Chief

  • Tripartite accord for tribal rights
  • TMP-BJP alliance dynamics
  • Upcoming TTAADC elections
  • Focus on constitutional safeguards
  • Political tensions in Tripura
2 min read

PM Modi, HM Shah committed to safeguarding Tripura tribals' constitutional rights: TMP chief

TMP founder Pradyot Debbarma states PM Modi and HM Amit Shah are committed to implementing the tripartite accord for Tripura's tribal development.

"What the state BJP leaders are saying... does not concern us, as the central BJP leadership is committed to implementing the agreement. - Pradyot Bikram Manikya Debbarma"

Agartala, Jan 12

Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union Home Minister Amit Shah are keen to ensure the constitutional rights of Tripura's tribal communities, Tipra Motha Party founder and chairman Pradyot Bikram Manikya Debbarma said on Monday.

The tribal-based TMP, led by former royal scion Debbarma, has been a junior partner of the ruling BJP since March 2024.

After prolonged negotiations, the TMP, then in the opposition, signed a tripartite agreement with the Centre and the Tripura government on March 2, 2024, in the presence of Union Home Minister Amit Shah. Subsequently, the party, which has 13 MLAs, joined the BJP-led coalition government on March 7 last year, adding a new dimension to the state's political dynamics.

Two TMP MLAs-Animesh Debbarma and Brishaketu Debbarma-were inducted into the Chief Minister Manik Saha-led ministry.

Talking to the media, Debbarma said the Prime Minister had given his blessings to the tripartite agreement and expressed confidence that the Union Home Minister would ensure its implementation for the all-round socio-economic development of the tribal population in Tripura.

"What the state BJP leaders are saying about the accord, the tribals or the TMP does not concern us, as the central BJP leadership is committed to implementing the agreement," the TMP supremo said. Debbarma reiterated that the sole objective of the TMP is the development of the tribal communities and the protection of their constitutional rights.

Ahead of the crucial elections to the Tripura Tribal Areas Autonomous District Council (TTAADC), relations between the BJP and the TMP have remained strained, with several incidents reported in recent months involving clashes, attacks and counter-attacks between workers of the two parties in different parts of the state.

Debbarma also recalled that the TTAADC was constituted in 1982 after the then Prime Minister Indira Gandhi amended the Constitution, despite opposition from state Congress leaders at that time.

Meanwhile, since 2021, the TMP has been governing the politically significant 30-member TTAADC, which covers nearly two-thirds of Tripura's 10,491 sq km geographical area and is home to over 12.16 lakh people, around 84 per cent of whom belong to indigenous communities.

In the run-up to the TTAADC polls, all major political parties, including the ruling BJP, its allies TMP and the Indigenous People's Front of Tripura (IPFT), and opposition CPI(M) and Congress, have intensified efforts to consolidate support among tribals, who constitute nearly one-third of Tripura's total population of about 4.2 million.

The TTAADC elections are scheduled to be held in March.

- IANS

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Reader Comments

R
Rohit P
Actions speak louder than words. The agreement was signed over a year ago, but the ground-level clashes between BJP and TMP workers are worrying. Implementation is key, not just assurances before elections.
A
Aman W
Good to see regional parties getting a voice at the centre. TMP joining the government shows a coalition can work for tribal rights. Hope this model is successful for Tripura's development.
S
Sarah B
Interesting to see the historical context with Indira Gandhi mentioned. Protecting constitutional rights for indigenous communities is crucial everywhere. Hope the upcoming council elections are peaceful and fair.
K
Karthik V
The TTAADC governing two-thirds of the state's area is a huge responsibility. The focus should be on delivering basic amenities and infrastructure to those 12 lakh people, not just political maneuvering.
N
Nisha Z
As someone from a tribal community in another state, I understand the struggle. Constitutional rights on paper mean little without political will and proper funding. Let's see if this agreement changes lives on the ground.

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