IPFT demand similar to insurgents demand: CPI(M)

The ruling CPI-M in Tripura today alleged that the demand for a separate state within the Tripura Tribal Areas Autonomous District Council (TTAADC) raised by the Indigenous People's Front of Tripura (IPFT) is similar to the demand of 'Free Tripura' raised by insurgents.
"The IPFT's demand of a separate state cannot be separated from the demands of the insurgents who raised the demand for free Tripura. These type of demands are being raised in the masks of insurgents to hot up the situation before the elections of the tribal council due next year", state party secretary Bijan Dhar, who is also the member of party's central committee said.

The TTAADC constitutes two third of the state's territory and is home to the tribals, who constitute one third of the state's population.
He also criticized the opposition Congress for not raising their voice against the demand of the IPFT which, according to him, is separatist in nature.
Dhar said there is information that different insurgent groups of the state were trying to organize themselves and start regrouping before the tribal council elections.
He said Tripura Chief Minister Manik Sarkar, who is also the party's politburo member, would lead a party demonstration before Parliament on November 26 against the central government's move to reduce the budget of the MGNREGA which created employment opportunities for the rural people in the country.

Dhar said, on the same day party units in Tripura would demonstrate before the central government offices in the state on the same cause.

He alleged that the union Rural Development Ministry has reduced 47 per cent of the MGNREGA budget in Tripura and was trying to confine this facility only to some small areas.
Dhar also alleged that the opposition Congress was trying to tarnish the image of the state's popular chief minister Manik Sarkar by raising fictitious allegation that he indulged in corruption.
"Actually this is a conspiracy to weaken the Left Front Government's base by bringing false allegations against him. Sarkar is the cleanest Chief Minister in the country and an efficient administrator", he added.