Tripura: Tribal Emotions Exploited: Tipra Motha Chief's Deceptive Alliance with the BJP
Haripada Das
THE Tipra Motha Chief and the last descendant of the royal family of Tripura, Pradyut Kishore Debbarman, has been exposed for betraying the trust of the tribal community by cunningly manipulating their emotions to secure a second term for the BJP in Tripura, despite the majority of tribal people voting against them. Debbarman, who has been advocating for the creation of 'Greater Tipra Land' through any means necessary, is now anxiously awaiting the visit of an appointed interlocutor tasked with finding a constitutional solution for the socio-economic well-being of the tribal people of Tripura. However, the repeated postponement of the interlocutor's visit has left the Tipra Motha chief in a state of suspense, as he tries to protect his political image.
Interlocutors are typically appointed with the purpose of initiating dialogue with outlawed groups that aim to transition towards a peaceful existence and establish conditions for renouncing violence. The interlocutors become necessary because the members of such groups do not have free access tothe movement. However, in the case of Tipra Motha in Tripura, they are not an outlawed organisation, and there are no limitations on the movement of their members. In fact, Tipra Motha has been officially recognised as a registered state party, holding 13 seats in the current assembly.
It appears that Tipra Motha has shifted its stance from advocating for 'Greater Tipra Land' to seeking a 'constitutional solution'. According to media reports, multiple rounds of talks have already taken place between the union home minister and Tipra Motha Cchief Pradyut Kishore Debbarman. If the main objective of these discussions is to reach a constitutional solution, then the question arises as to why the matter cannot be directly addressed with the union home minister, involving a group of constitutional experts. This query reflects the sentiments of the general public in Tripura.
The people of Tripura have had previous experiences with similar tactics employed by the BJP government to appease its alliance partner, the IPFT, regarding their demand for 'Tipra Land'. In 2018, the central government established a high-powered 'Modality Committee' with the aim of proposing measures for the socio-economic well-being of the tribal population in Tripura. The committee visited Tripura and engaged with various political and social organisations, gathering suggestions from them. However, the people of Tripura remain largely unaware of the recommendations made by this committee, and it is uncertain whether any report was submitted at all. Interestingly, the IPFT no longer insists on the publication of the committee's recommendations, adding to the prevailing ambiguity surrounding the matter.
ORIGIN OF TIPRA MOTHA
Around two to three months before the TTAADC election in 2021, Pradyut Kishore Debbarman presented himself as the sole protector and champion of the tribal people by proposing the concept of 'Greater Tipra Land.' According to his narrative, the creation of this entity was deemed essential for the emancipation of the tribal community. In numerous public speeches, he firmly asserted that nothing less than 'Greater Tipra Land' would be acceptable, emphasizsing that its realisation could only be achieved through an agreement with the union home ministry. Through this narrative, he generated a widespread frenzy, which he effectively capitalised on during the TTAADC election in 2021, resulting in his party winning 18 out of the total 28 seats. The ruling BJP-IPFT alliance secured the remaining 10 seats.
In 2019, Pradyut Kishore Debbarman served as the president of the Tripura Pradesh Congress Committee. In an attempt to appeal to tribal identity sentiments, he popularised the slogan 'Puila jati, Ula party' (The interest of the tribal community is primary, and that of the party is secondary). However, this narrow-minded slogan caused discomfort and dissatisfaction within the Congress high command. Recognising that his parochial approach might not be accepted by Congress, he made the decision to leave the party. Subsequently, in 2021, he established a separate organisation called Tipra Motha, with the aim of pursuing a more vigorous approach towards tribal identity and sectarianism.
DUBIOUS ROLE
Similar to other opposition parties, the chief of Tipra Motha expressed significant criticism towards the ruling BJP government in the state right from its inception. Tipra Motha characterised the BJP government as undemocratic, authoritarian, disregarding the constitution, and anti-tribal, particularly highlighting their actions in blocking funding to TTAADC (Tripura Tribal Areas Autonomous District Council). Several months prior to the assembly election, opposition parties such as the Left Front and concerned citizens advocating for the restoration of peace and democracy in the state recognised the need to join forces and present a united front against the BJP. The aim was to prevent the BJP from benefiting due to a division in opposition votes. Tipra Motha also shared this perspective and supported the idea of a unified fight against the BJP in the assembly election.
After multiple rounds of discussions between the Left parties and Congress, a joint statement was drafted, emphasising the need for a collective effort against the repressive, undemocratic, and anti-people rule of the BJP. Tipra Motha chief Pradyut Kishore Debbarman was approached to sign the statement as well. While he verbally expressed agreement with the statement's content, he chose not to be a signatory. Nonetheless, the statement was released on December 27, 2022, creating a tremendous wave of enthusiasm among the opposition masses.
In order to unite and confront the ruling party, Tipra Motha was invited to join forces with the left and Congress alliance. However, Tipra Motha declined the invitation to be a part of the Left-Congress combination, leading to their separate political path.
The true intentions of Tipra Motha became apparent when they announced their list of candidates. In addition to the 20 seats reserved for Scheduled Tribes (ST), Tipra Motha nominated candidates in 22 non-ST seats where their chances of winning were minimal. This strategic move aimed to benefit the ruling BJP by splitting the opposition vote. The election results confirm this strategy, as out of these 22 seats, the BJP emerged victorious in 18 seats with a smaller margin than the vote share garnered by Tipra Motha in each of those seats.
These results clearly indicate that while Tipra Motha publicly criticised the BJP government, they were secretly collaborating with the BJP to prevent a clear and decisive mandate. This cunning move by Tipra Motha worked to bifurcate the genuine mandate, allowing the BJP to retain power.
SPEAKER ELECTION
During the election for the position of speaker in the newly elected assembly, two candidates were in contention: one from the treasury bench and the other from the opposition. The leader of the Tipra Motha legislature group was among those who proposed the opposition candidate. However, on March 25, 2023, just before the commencement of the speaker election proceedings, the Tipra Motha MLAs staged a walkout, citing a trivial excuse related to their seating arrangement not being to their liking. Consequently, they abstained from the entire election process.
Given that the treasury bench held a clear majority in the house, though marginal, the outcome of the election would not have been affected by the participation or abstention of the Tipra Motha legislators. However, media reports disclosed that on the same morning, the union home minister contacted the Tipra Motha chief to inform him about the appointment of the Interlocutor and requested his assistance in ensuring a smooth election for the BJP's candidate for the speaker position.
On the contrary, the Tipra Motha Llegislators did not hesitate to express their strong condemnation in the assembly regarding the numerous inhumane attacks perpetrated against opposition leaders, cadres, and supporters. These attacks included acts of ransacking, looting, arson targeted at their homes, destruction of crops, and the deliberate destruction of rubber plantations, restrictions imposed on their ability to conduct business and trade. These atrocities occurred immediately after the announcement of the assembly election results on March 2nd throughout the state.
In 1967, in order to counter the growing influence of the GMP (Ganamukti Parishad), which was the only organisation representing the tribal masses at that time under the leadership of the renowned tribal leader Dasaratha Deb, the royal of Tripura, which was closely aligned with the Congress party, established the Tripura Upajati Juba Samity (TUJS). The TUJS claimed to work solely for the interests of the tribal community, positioning itself as an independent entity. Its leaders made it clear that they did not align themselves with either the Congress or the Communist Party. However, in practice, they formed a close electoral alliance with the Congress party for several decades. Due to the TUJS's narrow sectarian approach, it became the progenitor of various extremist outfits that wreaked havoc in the state for over two decades.
During her tenure as a Congress leader in 1980, Bibhu Kumari Debi, the mother of Pradyut Kishore Debbarman, made a similar appeal during a state-level conference of TUJS held in Taidu, Amarpur sub-division. She called for the reclamation of Jammu Deep by expelling the perceived "foreigners." The consequences of such a divisive call are widely known throughout the state. Subsequently, the TUJS initiated a market boycott, demanding the deportation of the so-called Bengali "foreigners," leading to a rupture in the long-standing trust between the tribal and non-tribal communities.
As a result, large areas of the state witnessed widespread violence between these two communities, resulting in the loss of several hundred lives. However, the then Left Front government, led by Nripen Chakraborty, acted swiftly to restore normalcy and rebuild harmony between the tribals and Bengalis, who had been misled for a brief period of time.
LEFT FRONT'S REMARKABLE CONTRIBUTIONS TO TRIBAL WELFARE
The history of Tripura reveals that the communists and the Left Front government have played a significant role in bringing about positive political, social, and economic changes for the welfare of the tribal communities. The Janashiksha Samity, led by the communists, played a pivotal role in introducing the light of education to the illiterate tribals in Tripura. They actively fought against inhumane feudal exploitations, superstitions, and other regressive practices, while undertaking social reforms that benefitted the innocent tribal masses.
Furthermore, it was the communists who first introduced the concept of democracy among the tribal communities in Tripura, promoting the values of democratic governance and participation. Their efforts have left a lasting impact on the socio-political landscape of the region and have contributed to the empowerment and upliftment of the tribal population.
Despite facing strong opposition from various political parties, including Congress, the Autonomous District Council (ADC) was established in 1982 under the 7th schedule of the Constitution. Subsequently, in 1984, it was further elevated to the Tripura Tribal Areas Autonomous District Council (TTAADC) under the 6th schedule of the Constitution. The Left Front government played a crucial role in these developments.
Under the Left Front government, Kokborok, the indigenous language of the region, was officially recognised as a state language. Efforts were made to enrich and promote the language, and it was even introduced as a subject of study up to the university level. In government recruitment, the Left Front government diligently filled all tribal vacancies, including the backlog, and maintained a reservation roster to ensure cent percent reservation for tribal candidates in subsequent recruitments.
Additionally, the Left Front government took steps to restore illegally transferred lands to their tribal owners. In cases where non-tribal occupiers were involved, appropriate compensation was provided. These achievements, aimed at benefiting the tribal community, were primarily accomplished by the Left Front government, and no other party deserves credit for such significant contributions.
Ironically, despite their lack of substantial contributions to tribal causes beyond mere lip service, the Tipra Motha does not recognise oracknowledge the achievements accomplished by the Left Frontgovernment.
Currently, the tribal people of the state are grappling with a multitude of crises. There is a scarcity of job opportunities and food, and the condition of roads and communication infrastructure is in a deplorable state. The frequent disruptions in electricity supply further compound the difficulties faced by the people. The health services are struggling to cope with the outbreak of water-borne epidemics, and the absence of safe drinking water poses a severe threat to the well-being of the communities. The ADC-run schools are suffering from a severe shortage of teachers, and the ongoing drought has rendered the irrigation plants non-functional.
In the midst of these challenges, the existence of the TTAADC, which is entrusted with the responsibility of addressing these issues, is hardly felt by the people. The TTAADC often cites a shortage of funds as an excuse for its inability to address these problems. However, they are not seen actively pursuing funding either from the state government or the central government to alleviate the situation.
The tribal masses have begun to awaken to the realization that Tipra Motha has been manipulating their emotions for the benefit of the BJP. While they may have been misled temporarily, it is only a matter of time before they discern their true allies from their adversaries. The tribal community's growing awareness will inevitably lead them to recognise the true intentions and actions of Tipra Motha, and they will be able to make informed decisions about their political support in the future.
