Tipra Motha founder and BJP ally Pradyot Kishore Debbarma has been raising the problems faced by tribals in Tripura, where he is in alliance with the BJP, and was in New Delhi to seek that a Constitutional solution for this be expedited. In an interview to The Indian Express, Debbarma says that while the Centre is supportive of the Motha’s concerns, there is resistance within the Tripura BJP when it comes to addressing the concerns of tribals. The scion of the erstwhile royal family of Tripura also says that he won’t hesitate to break his alliance with the BJP if it cannot meet the Motha’s demands. Excerpts:
The Centre has been very welcoming and forthright. But there are issues in the state because of the old mindset, that the tribals should not raise their voice and should be subservient to the political culture. This has been followed whether it was under the Communists, the Congress, or the BJP.
But it was expected to be different, with you in the ruling alliance in the state.
The Centre, from time immemorial, when both Indira Gandhi and Rajiv Gandhi were in power, tried to do a lot for tribals. But there was resistance from the state Congress. There were leaders in the Left in Delhi who wanted to empower the tribals, but there was local resistance from Communists in the state. I have met the Union Home Minister (Amit Shah) on various occasions. He has been very positive and proactive. He has expressed his desire to uplift the tribals. But there seems to be a certain amount of resistance from a few BJP leaders.
Chief Minister Manik Saha has blamed the Tipra Motha for recent attacks on BJP workers.
I won’t be able to name the Chief Minister simply because I have not had any conversation with him. If he blamed (the Tipra Motha), he should have spoken to me personally. But I have had no communication with him.
There was the Tiprasa accord to ensure an amicable solution to the socio-economic, cultural, and land issues of tribals. How is it progressing?
I am very happy with the intent shown by the Centre, Intelligence Bureau officials, and the Union Home Ministry. But I am not happy with the response of the state government.
Will you have an alliance with the BJP for the Tripura Tribal Areas Autonomous District Council elections?
I did not stitch up the alliance for political convenience. It was stitched up purely based on the implementation of the Tiprasa accord. If the accord is not honoured, the question of continuing in the alliance for just political powers and privilege is unacceptable to me.
Where does the demand for a separate ‘Greater Tipraland’ state, greater autonomy for tribals in the tribal council area stand now?
It stands very much where it was. This (Tripura) was an indigenous tribal state that accepted a lot of discriminated minorities from Bangladesh. We (the tribals) become the minority (after that). So, the government needs to appreciate and respect the sacrifices made by indigenous tribal communities in rehabilitating the persecuted minorities from Bangladesh and give the tribals what is rightfully theirs: political rights, land rights and economic rights, so that we can have a better future for our next generation and for our youth.
The Indigenous People’s Front of Tripura has also revived its demand for Tipraland.
If they had the guts to leave the coalition when their demand was not honoured, I would take their demand seriously. Nevertheless, I am happy that after being in power with the BJP for almost seven years, they have revived their stance, because they realised that without us speaking up as one community, nothing will happen. We need to first act as people, speak for our issues, rather than speaking from a party’s point of view. Let me reiterate, for me, my party is not as important as my people. If my party starts thinking about surviving politically but not ensuring people’s rights, then there is no use creating new parties and diluting our stance for being in power.
Are there inherent tensions in the BJP when it comes to tribal relations?
Almost 95% of the BJP in Tripura is the Congress. So, the point is that it has nothing to do with ideology. It’s about not giving tribal people their rights, whether you are in the Congress, the CPI(M) or the BJP. It seems that there are a few leaders — I do not think it’s the sentiment of all Bengalis — who feel that if the tribals are given their rights, it will undermine their political position. I feel it is a false position, because tribals and Bengalis can co-exist. People have to realise that most of the people in Tripura are here today due to the warmth and large heartedness of the tribal people who actually gave them land, food, and shelter when they came in as refugees from Bangladesh. I think they should give tribals the same warmth and give them their rights and respect.
PM Narendra Modi is likely to visit Manipur on September 13. What does it mean for the state and the Northeast?
I think the visit should have been made earlier; it is long overdue. What has happened in Manipur is extremely unfortunate. What Manipur needs is a healing touch, so we will see what the PM has to say. The truth is that the Northeast is often ignored because it’s too far away from Delhi and the heartland. I wish the government would give more attention to the peripheral states in the Northeast. Because we are the frontline in facing the influx of illegal immigrants. Also, with what is happening in Nepal and Bangladesh, certain elements may use these border states to create national security problems.
The BJP says the attention its government has given to the Northeast is unprecedented.
When CMs and leaders (from the region) come to Delhi and wait for weeks for an appointment, then… I was in the Congress as well and had to wait for days and days to get an appointment with ministers in UPA-I and II. It seems many leaders come to Delhi, wait for weeks and weeks now to get an appointment to get their problems solved. It keeps getting deferred. It does mean that right now the priority for the Central government is Bihar, Bengal, Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan, Gujarat, and maybe Assam too. The other states in the region should be a priority too.
What is your concern regarding the political turmoil in Nepal?
It is going to affect the whole of India. It cannot be a coincidence that regimes are changing across our neighbourhood. There are certain things that are geopolitical, which have been triggered. I think the government needs to be extremely careful in ensuring that our economy, sentiments, and borders are protected. Because if it does not happen, it will take a matter of minutes when there is frustration, angst among the younger people. They may resort to something similar. The government needs to be very careful in ensuring that issues with our economy and our frustrations are addressed, and our borders are sealed. Because I do see in my part of the world a growing sense of insecurity and frustration among our youngsters.