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AGARTALA: Tripura’s political newcomer Tipra Motha that emerged as the second largest party with 13 MLAs in its maiden assembly elections said Sunday that it’s ready to sit with BJP for a “face-to-face meeting” to find a “constitutional solution” to problems faced by the indigenous Tiprasa people, the party’s core constituency.
The party helmed by Tripura royal Pradyot Kishore Debbarman had refused BJP’s offer to join the government unless it gets a written assurance on “Greater Tipraland”, a separate state for the indigenous population.
Tipra Motha opened up for talks a day after Assam CM Himanta Biswa Sarma said the party’s concerns should be addressed through dialogue, although he ruled out any negotiation for a separate tribal state.
“If we are respectfully invited for talks on constitutional rights – economic, political, linguistic – we will participate. We are sons of the soil… We are ready for talks to find a constitutional solution to the problems of indigenous people. And, the talks cannot be about ministerial posts or individual benefits,” Debbarman said in a video posted on social media.
Also, he assured that his party will not let down the people who voted for it and warned that anyone seeking to govern Tripura by ignoring its indigenous people will find it difficult to run the state smoothly.
Sarma, who is also convener of BJP-led NEDA (equivalent of NDA in the NE), said Saturday the Centre and the new government in Tripura need to resolve issues raised by Tipra Motha.
“Without dividing the state of Tripura, we are ready to sit down and talk to them to resolve the grievances of tribal people. But we can’t talk of ‘Greater Tipraland’, the discussion can be on greater autonomy and empowerment. I hope the new government will surely hear the grievances. Elections are over. There is no harm in working together. The issues related to the indigenous people can be heard sitting across the table,” he said.
A BJP-led government will take the oath of office for a second term in Tripura on March 8, while new governments will be sworn in on March 7 in Meghalaya and Nagaland. BJP won 32 seats in Tripura in election.
The party helmed by Tripura royal Pradyot Kishore Debbarman had refused BJP’s offer to join the government unless it gets a written assurance on “Greater Tipraland”, a separate state for the indigenous population.
Tipra Motha opened up for talks a day after Assam CM Himanta Biswa Sarma said the party’s concerns should be addressed through dialogue, although he ruled out any negotiation for a separate tribal state.
“If we are respectfully invited for talks on constitutional rights – economic, political, linguistic – we will participate. We are sons of the soil… We are ready for talks to find a constitutional solution to the problems of indigenous people. And, the talks cannot be about ministerial posts or individual benefits,” Debbarman said in a video posted on social media.
Also, he assured that his party will not let down the people who voted for it and warned that anyone seeking to govern Tripura by ignoring its indigenous people will find it difficult to run the state smoothly.
Sarma, who is also convener of BJP-led NEDA (equivalent of NDA in the NE), said Saturday the Centre and the new government in Tripura need to resolve issues raised by Tipra Motha.
“Without dividing the state of Tripura, we are ready to sit down and talk to them to resolve the grievances of tribal people. But we can’t talk of ‘Greater Tipraland’, the discussion can be on greater autonomy and empowerment. I hope the new government will surely hear the grievances. Elections are over. There is no harm in working together. The issues related to the indigenous people can be heard sitting across the table,” he said.
A BJP-led government will take the oath of office for a second term in Tripura on March 8, while new governments will be sworn in on March 7 in Meghalaya and Nagaland. BJP won 32 seats in Tripura in election.
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