IPFT threatens movement over modality committee, demands one more cabinet berth

The IPFT, an ally of the ruling BJP in Tripura, threatened to launch a movement today unless an "inter-ministerial modality committee" was formed within the next three months and also demanded another cabinet berth in the Biplab Kumar Deb ministry.

The "inter-ministerial modality committee" would study the socio-economic and cultural issues of the indigenous people of the north-eastern state, Indigenous People's Front of Tripura (IPFT) vice-president Ananta Debbarma told reporters here.

He claimed that the Centre had, on January 8, announced to form the committee after an IPFT delegation met Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Home Minister Rajnath Singh in this regard.

"We are waiting to be updated about the inter-ministerial modality committee, to be formed by the Ministry of Home Affairs. If it does not start functioning within the next three months, we shall launch a democratic movement," Debbarma said.

Demanding one more cabinet berth for the IPFT, he said, "There is a provision for a 12-member cabinet. Chief Minister Biplab Kumar Deb has filled up nine positions and kept three vacant. We were given two berths in the cabinet, we can get one more."