Tripura tribal party reiterates demand for separate tribal land

The People's Front of Twipra (IPTF) has reiterated its demand for a separate tribal land by the name of 'Twipra Land' here on Saturday as the date for the Tripura Tribal Areas Autonomous District Council poll comes closer.

Hundreds of IPTF supporters brought out a procession in demand for the same, asserting the necessity for the separate land to protect the interests of the tribals who are at the threat of extinction.

"Direct funding for the ADC is not big question but the existence of identity of 12 lakh tribal is at stake. During the rule of the Maharaja the ratio of tribal was 95 percent but at present, the government ratio is 31 percent while the non-government calculation based on the practical ground is not more than 26 percent. The fast deduction in the ratio of the tribal section of the population is at the threat of existence and so we are demanding for separate tribal state like that of Telengana and hope that in the near future the central government is going to fulfil our demand," said N.C. Debbarma, president of IPFT.

He further added that his party had placed the demand for separate tribal state to the UPA government and as well as to the NDA government.

"We had placed our demand (for separate state) to the Sonia Gandhi led government and the present NDA government led by Narendra Damodardas Modiji government. We also met Rajnath Singh at Delhi on this issue and got positive response. The NDA government after coming to power immediately asked for the state government for its view on the separate tribal state and the state government has also replied. We hope that the central government will be positive towards our cause and hopefully very soon the Twipra Land will be formed with the Autonomous District Council Land," he added.

The poll which is scheduled for the first week of May has 758,554 eligible voters, including 375,117 women. 28 representatives will be elected through direct election out of the total 30 seats. The remaining two would be filled by Government nominees.