The agreement was signed in New Delhi on Saturday
The Centre signed a significant tripartite agreement with the Tripura government, the opposition TIPRA Motha party, and various stakeholders in New Delhi on Saturday, addressing several demands raised by TIPRA Motha’s founder and chief, Pradyot Kishore Debbarma, for the development of the state’s indigenous population, according to officials familiar with the matter.
The accord was inked in the presence of Union Home Minister Amit Shah, Tripura Chief Minister Dr. Manik Saha, and TIPRA Motha chief Pradyot Kishore. Former Tripura CM and Rajya Sabha MP Biplab Kumar Deb, Tripura ministers Bikash Debbarma and Shukla Charan Noatia, along with a few lawmakers, also attended, officials confirmed.
“Today marks a historic day for Tripura. Through this agreement, we acknowledge history, rectify past mistakes, and embrace the realities of today to pave the way for the future. We cannot alter history, but we can move forward, learning from past errors and acknowledging present truths,” Shah remarked following the signing ceremony.
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The agreement comes after a year of discussions initiated by Shah, who met with TIPRA Motha founder Pradyot Kishore in Agartala, appointing an interlocutor to address the party’s demands.
According to the agreement, a joint working group or committee will be established to address and resolve all issues concerning the tribals, including their historical, land, and political rights, economic development, culture, identity, and language. All stakeholders have been urged to refrain from engaging in protests to ensure a conducive environment for implementing the agreement.
“I assure all Tripura stakeholders that you will no longer need to struggle for your rights,” Shah affirmed.
The agreement emphasizes resolving the indigenous people’s concerns about history, land rights, political representation, economic development, identity, culture, language, and more. A joint working group or committee will be formed to implement the agreed-upon points on these issues.
There have been allegations of tribal deprivation due to demographic shifts following large settlements of non-tribals from Bangladesh during the 1971 Bangladesh Liberation War.
Shah commended TIPRA Motha, tribal parties, and organizations for their constructive roles in the agreement. He praised former CM Biplab Kumar Deb and current CM Dr. Manik Saha for their contributions and expressed optimism about Tripura’s development aligning with PM Modi’s vision of Vikasit Bharat (Developed India).
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Shah highlighted the series of accords signed under the BJP-led National Democratic Alliance government to foster peace and stability in the Northeast. He noted that under PM Modi’s leadership, efforts have been made to make the Northeast terrorism-free, dispute-free, and violence-free.
Shah stated that a total of 11 peace and boundary settlement agreements have been signed in the Northeast, including the NLFT peace accord in 2019 and the Bru migrants permanent resettlement tripartite agreement and Boro Accord in Assam in 2020.
Earlier in the week, Pradyot Kishore announced a fast-unto-death in Agartala, protesting the delay in finding a constitutional solution for the state’s tribals. However, after the signing ceremony, he expressed gratitude to PM Modi and Shah, emphasizing the need to address issues such as land rights, funding patterns, language, and political representation.
Pradyot Kishore, who founded TIPRA Motha after leaving Congress in 2021, reached an agreement with the Centre, Tripura government, and stakeholders, marking a significant milestone in addressing the concerns of Tripura’s indigenous population.
