The ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) on Sunday unveiled its manifesto for the Tripura Tribal Areas Autonomous District Council (TTAADC) elections scheduled for April 12. The statement promises official recognition of Kokpuruk and other indigenous languages, and proposes renaming TTAADC into the Tripura Regional Autonomous Council. Kokpuruk is the lingua franca of majority of the indigenous people of Tripura.
The Sankalp Patra manifesto pledges to establish democratically elected village committees and introduce initiatives to preserve indigenous traditions and customary laws.
It also undertakes to open handloom and handicraft training centers in every district to empower indigenous women, establish girls’ hostel in every indigenous district, strengthen self-help groups for indigenous women and take special initiatives to increase the number of ‘lakhpati didis’ to provide special skill training programs for boys and girls from TTAADC districts to avail employment opportunities at national and international levels.
It also pledged to open a medical college in Dalay district, a nursing institute and a para-medical institute in Kumulung, a state-of-the-art football academy, a martial arts academy, provide financial and other support to young entrepreneurs, and implement a ‘drug-free Tripura’ through the TTAADC administration, among other initiatives.
“I will say that history will be made. The BJP will form a government in the TTAADC for the first time. People are realizing this now. Nobody wants violence. We do not believe in violence. Ever since we announced that we will contest on 28 seats, they (Tipra Mutha) have resorted to violence. We strongly condemn violence,” Chief Minister Dr Manik Saha told reporters at the TTAADC headquarters in Khumolung.
Asked about the government’s allegations of corruption in the TIPRA-led TAADC, and what the BJP has done to confront it, Saha said: “TAADC is a local committee. When we come to power in TTAADC, everything will come. Now, we don’t want to interfere in this. We will do it when the time comes.”
Later, Saha said on social media, “BJP has always been committed to fulfilling every promise. Our unwavering resolve is to work for the overall well-being and empowerment of our Janajati brothers and sisters. With the top priority for all-round development of the Janajati community, today we launched our Sankalp Patra in Kumulung for the upcoming ADC elections, focusing on economic, social, cultural and linguistic progress across ADC regions, while also opening new avenues for education, skill development and employment opportunities together.” We move forward with the vision of Viksit TTAADC, rooted in prosperity, identity and opportunity for all.
While enumerating the BJP’s agenda from the manifesto, former Lok Sabha MP Ripati Tripura said they have prioritized recognition of Kokpuruk and other indigenous languages. “In Sankalp Patra, we have retained 29 points which we will achieve if we come to power (in TTAADC),” he told reporters.
