AGARTALA, January 3 (TIWN): Tribal based opposition Indigenous Nationalist Party of Tripura (INPT) has denied the demand of separate tribal state within the state of Tripura in the name of “Twipra land”. Talking to TIWN, INPT General Secretary Jagadish Debbarma today said ahead of election to Tripura Tribal Areas Autonomous District Council (TTAADC), a section of tribals has been raising the demand of a separate state, which is nothing but an instigation to crack the communal fabric.

“INPT neither raised such an irrational issue before nor supported the argument of creation of community, caste, language or religion based state in India. This will not only dilute the core issue of the backward tribals, but create fresh tension,” Debbarma stated.

He, however, pointed out that unless development plans for tribals are not being implemented properly and socio-economic conditions of poor tribals are not upgraded, separate state can’t help the tribal communities.

INPT General Secretary Jagadish Debbarma further stated that in earlier election, INPT had an alliance with the Congress but in the upcoming ADC election till now the party did not decided anything yet but if any anti-left parties want to talk with us we are ready, he mentioned. 

He further mentioned that “We have decided that fighting with Congress is not beneficial to us. In past 10 years when Congress led UPA govt was at the centre, INPT had raised several issues for strengthening of ADC and development of tribals but they did nothing towards the demand except mobilizing the party for electoral politics,” he maintained.

INPT delegation had met Home Minister Rajnath Singh to pursue the longstanding eight point charter of demands for empowerment of ADC on December 15 last. He assured to raise the demands of INPT in the next session of Parliament.

“More power to ADC includes financial autonomy and direct funding to ADC by the central government, to include Kokborok in 8th schedule of the Constitution and proper implementation of tribal development program besides, upgradation of social infrastructure in tribal infested hilly areas to remove the sense of isolation,” Debbarma mentioned.