INPT for NRC revision in Tripura

The Indigenous Nationalist Party of Twipra (INPT), a regional party with a strong tribal base, today demanded revision of National Register of Citizens (NRC) in the state.

The party organized a 5-hour sit-in in front of the Swami Vivekananda Maidan here today to press for their demands including revision of NRC and empowerment of Tripura Tribal Areas Autonomous District Council constituting two-thirds of the state's territory.

INPT president Bijoy Hrangkhawl said a delegation of the party would visit Delhi and submit a memorandum to the Centre in this regard soon.

"How can anybody justify that there is no necessity of NRC in Tripura? No one can do so. We demand that citizens should clarify their position, Hrangkhawl said in his speech.

Tripura Chief Minister Biplab Kumar Deb had said last month that everyone in the state had valid papers and there was no demand for a citizen's register on the lines of the National Register of Citizens (NRC) in Assam.

"Everything is in order in Tripura and everyone has valid papers. Hence, it is not an issue for us," the chief minister had said.

Hrangkhawl said many outsiders have settled in the state which is adding to the problems faced by the locals..

"Will you allow Myanmarese or Chinese people to settle here, will you agree to it? We have been outnumbered in the state due to immigration of people," Hrangkhawl said.

He said the demand for NRC revision is a constitutional one.

On Thursday, the General Secretary of Indigenous Peoples Front of Tripura (IPFT), Mevar Kumar Jamatiya said that the NRC should be revised in Tripura.

IPFT is an ally of the ruling BJP government of Tripura.