Tripura BJP threatens agitation on displacement of tribals

The Tripura unit of BJP today said it will resort to agitation against the state's Left Front government if they tried to evict 12,000 tribals from the Longterai hill range to set up a firing range for the Assam Rifles.
"The state government decided to evict the tribals in the name of setting up a firing range in the hills of Longterai in Dhalai district. We will launch an indefinite satyagraha movement if the government attempts to displace the tribals. Government documents in this regard are available to us," BJP state president Sudhindra Dasgupta told reporters.
Dasgupta said the tribals have been living in 32 hamlets there for more than 100 years and were given 'patta' (title deeds) and allotted forest lands under the Forest Rights Act.

"A delegation led by a CPI(M) Politburo member recently submitted a memorandum to President Pranab Mukherjee insisting for not acquiring any land without the approval of the inhabitants. In a sharp contrast, the same party in power in Tripura is trying to evict the tribals from their land. This is their dubious character," he said.
Dasgupta said state BJP has sought the intervention of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh on the issue.