Tipra Motha leaders hold “fruitful” meeting with Assam CM 

The leaders of Tipra Motha Party (TMP), the primarily tribe-based opposition political party in Tripura, held a “fruitful” meeting with Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma in Guwahati on March 30. The outcome of the meeting has practically averted TMP chairman Pradyot Bikram Manikya Debbarma’s threat to go on an indefinite hunger strike

GUWAHATI

The leaders of Tipra Motha Party (TMP), the primarily tribe-based opposition political party in Tripura, held a “fruitful” meeting with Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma in Guwahati on March 30. 

The outcome of the meeting has practically averted TMP chairman Pradyot Bikram Manikya Debbarma’s threat to go on an indefinite hunger strike if the Centre did not appoint an interlocutor by March 27 for pursuing “constitutional solutions” to his demand for Greater Tipraland. 

The demand entails more autonomy and socio-economic development of the Tiprasa people comprising 19 indigenous communities. Mr Debbarma said Home Minister Amit Shah assured the appointment of an interlocutor by March 27. 

“Our meeting with the Assam CM was very fruitful and he would explain all aspects of our meeting at an appropriate time,” Animesh Debbarma, the TMP’s leader of the opposition in the 60-member Tripura Assembly told journalists after returning to the State’s capital Agartala Thursday evening. 

“He (Mr Sarma) outlined the Centre’s roadmap for the all-round development of the tribal people in Tripura. We were convinced about these plans,” he said. 

“Thank you, Himanta Biswa for your assurance and statement today. We are keen to resolve the indigenous people’s issues and we are glad the process has been initiated in a time-bound manner,” the TMP chairman tweeted late Thursday evening.