Tuesday, February 13:In a press conference held at his office, Opposition Leader Animesh Debbarma asserted the need for greater inclusivity in education. He demanded that the Kokborok language be taught to all students and that textbooks and question papers for the CBSE (Central Board of Secondary Education) and TBSE (Tripura Board of Secondary Education) boards be printed in both Bengali and Roman scripts in the future.
This call comes in the wake of a recent protest by the Tipra Student Federation (TSF), which took place on February 12. The TSF rallied in front of the Chief Minister’s residence, advocating for the right to write Kokborok language examinations using the Roman script. The police detained the protesters during the demonstration.
However, Debbarma clarified that the state police chief had investigated the matter and found that the police officer in question had not referred to the TSF workers as “extremists.” Instead, the officer allegedly said, “send them upstairs.” Debbarma expressed gratitude to the police for their diligent handling of the situation.
While Debbarma emphasized that he did not seek agitation, he felt compelled to address the issue due to the stance taken by the Tripura Board of Secondary Education and the Education Department. He acknowledged the Chief Minister’s understanding of the matter.
Taking a swipe at certain media outlets, Debbarma refuted claims that Monday’s protest was merely a political maneuver between Tipra Motha and the ruling BJP. He asserted that Tipra Motha’s actions were well-calculated, considering factors such as crowd size, resource requirements, and logistical planning. He challenged the media to play the role of “astrologers” and predict future developments.
Debbarma concluded by warning that if the state government fails to address pressing issues, including unemployment, citizens can expect further protests akin to the recent one. Letters have already been dispatched to the government, urging them to take heed of these concerns.
