The Left Front government in Tripura today rejected Indigenous People's Front of Tripura's demand for introducing Inner line Permit within the Tripura Tribal Areas Autonomus District Council (TTAADC).
Replying to a question in the Assembly by Congress MLA Ratan Lal Nath whether the state government would consider accepting the IPFT's demand for inner line regulation in tribal council areas, Tribal Welfare Minister Aghore Debbarma said that there was no question of implementing it.
"Tripura's topography, present demographic composition and nature of politics, specially the existence of ADC for tribals based on 6th schedule of the Constitution preclude the extension of inner line regulation," Debbarma said, adding the demand was "divisive".
Nath pointed out that Left Front had raised the same demand for Inner Line Permit in 1990 when they were in opposition.
Debbarma said late Chief Minister Dasharath Deb had corresponded with the central government demanding inner line regulations in two letters in 1994 and 1996 but the Union Home Ministry had ruled this out.
"Since then no individual or party has raised such a demand and it is irrelevant now," he said.
Nath then produced a copy of a memorandum submitted by then state CPI(M) party secretary and present Chief Minister Manik Sarkar submitted in an all-party meeting making a four-point charter of demands.
"The memorandum submitted by Sarkar raised the demand for inner line in ADC areas, identification and encampment of Bangladeshi infiltrators who had entered the state after March 25, 1971 before their final deportation and sealing of border with Bangladesh" Nath said.
The chief minister, who was in the House, remained silent on the issue.
Nath said that the CPI(M)'s manifesto for the 1998 Assembly election had also raised the demand for inner line Permit.
