Agartala, March 23: Amid the ongoing indefinite statewide strike by the Twipra Students’ Federation (TSF) demanding the adoption of the Roman script for Kokborok, ruling BJP alliance Tipra Motha founder Pradyot Kishore Debbarma has urged the Tripura government and opposition parties to take a clear stand on the issue as he suggested that the matter maybe resolve by the state by not including Kokborok in the eighth scheduled of the Constitution.
His statement came a day before TSF’s planned continuation of protests on Monday, despite Chief Minister Manik Saha expressing willingness to resolve the matter in the Assembly.
Addressing reporters on Sunday, Debbarma, also the royal scion, asserted that the demand for the Roman script is “non-negotiable.”
Pradyot said that he had spoken to both the Chief Minister and TSF representatives, emphasizing that the matter should be resolved within the state.
“We will not ask for Kokborok to be included in the Eighth Schedule of the Constitution, as that would make it a central subject. Instead, it is the state government’s responsibility to decide whether Tiprasa students should learn in Roman or Bengali script. My stance is clear—we want the Roman script. The government and opposition, especially the Communist Party, must stop shifting the responsibility to Delhi and address the issue here in Tripura,” Debbarma said.
Drawing comparisons with other northeastern states, he pointed out that people in Mizoram and Meghalaya freely write their languages in their preferred scripts and demanded similar rights for Kokborok speakers in Tripura.
Highlighting a significant moment in the state’s political history, he noted that for the first time in the Tripura Assembly, Tipra Motha MLA and Cabinet Minister Animesh Debbarma had raised the Kokborok script issue before the Chief Minister.
“Animesh Debbarma was firm yet respectful in his approach. This is not a sign of weakness but a genuine attempt to ensure that Tiprasa students get what they want,” he added.
When asked about Tipra Motha’s stance on TSF’s protest, Debbarma clarified that while the student body is not affiliated with his party, he supports the cause as a Tiprasa leader and as the son of Tripura’s last king.
“This is not about politics but about the survival and existence of the Tiprasa community. I am not behind the agitation, but I stand in solidarity with TSF because their demand is legitimate,” he said.
As the agitation continues, all eyes are now on the Tripura government’s response to the growing demand for the Roman script in Kokborok education.
