A delegation of the opposition TIPRA Motha Party led by the party’s chairman Pradyot Bikram Manikya on Friday demonstrated a sitting protest outside Raj Bhavan in Agartala.
They alleged that despite repeated attempts seeking appointment from the Governor they were denied.
The opposition party and which is power in the Tripura Tribal Areas Autonomous District Council (TTAADC) said that have been seeking appointment from the Governor of Tripura from past many months but till date they have not been given the appointment to meet and discuss on issues concerns to the indigenous people of Tripura.
Several Motha MLAs, Executive Members and elected members of the Council waited outside the Raj Bhavan as they demonstrated their opposition to the alleged ‘step-motherly attitude of the state government’.
In a memorandum submitted to the Governor the Motha viewed that on date the indigenous people of Tripura are being forced to live like second-class citizens in their motherland.
It added that the indigenous people of Tripura deserve to live with dignity, peace, and prosperity, but unfortunately, the sheer negligence of the state administration has led to unrest among the people.
I the signed memorandum they complained that they have been seeking the Governor’s appointment for many months to discuss in detail matter related to several pending Bills waiting for his consent and delay in releasing of fund by the state government, but haven’t been able to meet him because of the reasons best known to his office and so they are writing this letter to apprise him about few issues.
The memorandum said that the Tripura Tribal Areas Autonomous District Council (TTAADC is facing unceasing stepmotherly treatment by the State Government of Tripura as during the last two years of the present TTAADC government, many important bills have been passed by the TTAADC but are pending at the Governor’s office for final approval.
Again out of the total Rs. 619.25 Cr. fund allocated to the TTAADC for the last financial year (i.e. FY 2022-23) Rs. 126.59 Cr. is yet to be released by the State government and this has resulted in a delay in the disbursement of staff salaries and other development activities.
Moreover, it added that for the current financial year (i.e. FY 2023-24) to date a total sum of only about Rs. 4.24 Cr. has been allocated for the developmental works.
In the memorandum the Opposition party also raised that the Village Council election which was originally scheduled to take place in March 2021 is being delayed even after the clear directions of the High Court of Tripura to conduct the election but did not take place and which has severely affected the developmental works in TTAADC areas.
They urged and approach to the Governor as the constitutional head of the state to do justice to the indigenous people (tribals) of the state by directing the Government of Tripura and others concerned to immediately look into our grievances.
The Opposition party also threatened that even after the Governor’s directions if no actions are taken then they will be left with no other option but to go for a mass agitation.