Tripura tribal party to block highway for Constitutional solution

TMP to block National Highway 8 in Tripura to protest Centre's delay in addressing indigenous communities' issues.

GUWAHATI

Members of the Tipra Motha Party (TMP), Tripura’s main Opposition party, are scheduled to block National Highway 8 — the State’s lifeline — on Wednesday to protest the Centre’s delay in providing constitutional solutions to the issues of the indigenous communities.

The blockade is likely to coincide with an indefinite hunger strike to be launched by TMP chairman Pradyot Bikram Manikya Debbarma at Tripura West district’s Hatai Kotor, formerly Baramura.

Mr. Debbarma, who returned to the State’s capital Agartala on Monday night after a meeting with Home Ministry officials in Delhi, said the TMP and Tripura’s indigenous people want a written and not verbal assurance from the Centre for fulfilling their demands.

“What we seek is according to the Indian Constitution. We want the Centre to fulfil its assurance on the tribal people’s constitutional and land rights,” he said, urging all political parties to join the agitation in the interest of the indigenous communities.

He said 95% of Tripura’s indigenous people belonging to 19 recognised tribes are landless.

On Monday night, Mr. Debbarma held a meeting with Tribal Welfare Minister Sukla Charan Noatia to discuss the TMP’s demands and agitation. The latter is a leader of the Indigenous People’s Front of Tripura, an ally of the ruling BJP.