Agartala, November 15: In a significant political move, the Tipra Motha Party escalated its pressure on the ruling BJP-led state government and the central authorities by submitting memoranda across the state to Block Development Officers (BDOs) on Thursday.
The campaign, which witnessed the active participation of party supporters and members of affiliated organizations, aimed at addressing the long-standing issues of the indigenous tribal communities in Tripura.
The memoranda, addressed to the Governor of Tripura, Indrasena Reddy Nallu listed three major demands: the full implementation of the TIPRASA Accord, the immediate conduct of Village Committee elections, and the swift passage of the 125th Amendment to the Indian Constitution.
Tipra Motha Party emphasized that the TIPRASA Accord, a historic tripartite agreement signed on March 2, 2024, between the Government of India, the Government of Tripura, and TIPRA, was intended to resolve enduring concerns of the indigenous communities in the state.
The accord covers a wide range of issues, including the protection of tribal history, land rights, economic development, and the preservation of identity, culture, and language.
Despite the formation of a Joint Working Group/Committee and the first meeting held in New Delhi on September 20, 2024, Motha leaders expressed frustration over the slow progress in implementing the accord and demanded that the Governor’s intervention is crucial to expedite the implementation process and ensure that the commitments made are fulfilled without further delays,” stated Tipra Motha MLA Biswajit Kaloi during the submission of the memorandum at Jampuijala.
Another critical demand put forth by the Tipra Motha Party is the urgent need to conduct Village Committee elections.
The last elections were held in 2016, with the five-year term expiring in 2021. However, despite various other elections, such as the Municipal, Assembly, and Parliamentary polls, the Village Committee elections have been indefinitely delayed.
The absence of these local bodies, which are instrumental in grassroots governance and the direct implementation of welfare schemes, has resulted in a governance vacuum. “The delay in conducting these elections has hindered democratic participation and obstructed developmental projects in rural tribal areas. It is imperative for the Governor to ensure that these elections are conducted promptly to restore effective local administration,” the memorandum stated.
The third key demand in the memorandum is for the urgent passage of the 125th Amendment to the Indian Constitution. This amendment seeks to empower tribal communities by granting them greater autonomy in the administration of tribal areas, thereby enhancing their socio-economic and political rights.
The statewide deputation campaign comes just days after a high-level strategy meeting held by Tipra Motha founder Pradyot Kishore Debbarma alongwith all MLAs, elected representatives in the district council, senior leaders and head of various organizations affiliated with the party.
