Imphal, August 16 (NNN): Chief Ministers of Tripura and West Bengal have been accused of preventing the Tripura People’s Front (TPF) and North East Indigenous Peoples’ Parliament (NEIPP) from celebrating the International Day of World’s Indigenous Peoples, 2016 at Stable ground, Agartala on August 9.
“The two organisations had got the official permission, but CMs of the two states barred them from celebrating the event,” TPF president Patte Kanya told the media at the Press Club here on Tuesday.
But she did not elaborate on the action taken by the West Bengal CM, Mamata Banerjee and Tripura CM, Manik Sarkar. Civil societies in Tripura have been voicing concern over the ‘ever increasing’ number of illegal Bangladeshi population in the state.
She said around 50 representatives from Manipur, who were supposed to attend a political conference to mark the event at the Stable ground, were also detained by the police. But the venue was later shifted to another place where the function was held.
The TPF president said a united effort by all indigenous communities of the region can safeguard themselves against illegal influx. She claimed that “illegal immigrants” have occupied everything over the indigenous people of Tripura. We’ve not been able to enjoy our freedom in a democratic country till date.”
NEIPP works for bringing all indigenous communities of the NE region to a common platform to tackle all issues and threats faced by them. “Of the about 38 lakh population of Tripura, now the number of indigenous Tripuri people is about 12 lakh who have been reeling under the acute pressure from the wave of migration,” Patte said.
Tripura has various indigenous groups like the Tipra, Reang, Jamatia, Kaipeng, Noatia, Koloi and Halam, all hill tribal communities.
Speaking at the press meet, NEIPP coordinator Ningthouja Lancha condemned the “prohibition” imposed by the CMs of Tripura and West Bengal against the two organisations.
He said, “Any political mechanism aimed at accommodating illegal Bangladeshi Hindus or foreigners will be opposed tooth and nail.”
Home Minister Rajnath Singh recently introduced the Citizenship (Amendment) Bill, 2016, in the Lok Sabha in the hope to pave the way for granting citizenship to Bangladeshi Hindus and other minority groups from a few adjoining countries.
Lancha said they would never allow the bill to become an Act.
