Reported by: Mrinal Banik
Agartala: Tipra Motha Party supremo Pradyot Kishore Debbarma has urged people of Tripura, particularly the younger generation, to focus on constitutional land rights and other issues concerning the indigenous population instead of limiting political discussions to alliances ahead of the upcoming village council elections.
In an Instagram Live, Debbarma said several people were discussing possible political alliances and the elections on social media, but the issue of land rights needed greater attention.
He said he had approached the High Court and subsequently the Supreme Court over the village council elections, following which the Supreme Court directed the State Election Commission to conduct the polls.
Debbarma said the village councils were important for ensuring that development funds reached the grassroots and alleged that funds often remained stuck between MLAs, MDCs and officials.
He also appealed to Tiprasa people not to allow electoral politics to divide them along party, religious or community lines.
“Land rights” was a larger issue than any political party, he said, adding that Tiprasa people should receive constitutional protection over land.
“When Meghalaya, Mizoram and Nagaland have land rights, and the Bodo, Dimasa and Karbi communities have land rights, why will Tiprasa people of Tripura not get land rights?” he said.
Debbarma said the issue had been raised in the Tiprasa Accord and asserted that he would discuss an alliance with the Centre only if constitutional land rights were provided.
He said such rights should benefit all Tiprasa people irrespective of their political affiliation.
“It is no longer about me. It is about your future,” Debbarma said, while asking young people to come forward and take responsibility.
Referring to village council elections, he urged educated people to contest and take part in local administration. He said that in Shillong, retired IAS and IPS officers, lawyers and professors contested for the position of village head, while in Tripura, people often refrained from contesting because of considerations about seniority and political influence.
He also asked party leaders to stop giving positions to their family members and relatives, saying people should work towards establishing a clean and transparent administration.
Debbarma said he did not want to compromise on the issue of land rights for the sake of an alliance. He also said he was concerned about whether people would remember him for fighting for their rights or merely for a political party.
He appealed to young people to speak out and participate in public affairs, saying the responsibility for the future would eventually rest with them.