IPFT welcomes CAA, but renews demand for separate tribal state

Agartala: While welcoming the Centre’s decision to implement CAA in Tripura with the exception of the Tribal Areas Autonomous District Council, which falls under the Sixth Schedule, BJP ally IPFT has renewed its demand for a separate state for the tribals.IPFT general secretary Swapan Debbarma on Sunday said CAA 2019 has protected the rights of the tribals in the ADC areas as opposed to the Citizenship Act 1955, which didn’t have any restriction on granting of citizenship to non-tribals anywhere, thereby posing a threat to the tribals. “IPFT and other organisations of the NE had protested against the CAA to prevent non-tribals from being granted citizenship and we succeeded,” he added.Following protests across the northeast, Union home minister Amit Shah assured to protect the interests of the tribals. Accordingly, Sec 3 of 6B (4) of CAA 2019 has made it clear that none except tribals would be granted citizenship in ADC areas, Debbarma said.The Act has prohibited the citizenship of non-tribals in ADC areas, which will help prevent infiltration of outsiders until such time that ADCs are empowered, the IPFT general secretary said.“We urged the Centre to reconsider our demand for a separate tribal state elevating the status of Tripura ADC. Else it will not be practically possible to prevent the infiltration of non-tribals into tribal land,” Debbarma said.Echoing similar sentiments, IPFT president Pradip Debbarma said, “The implementation of CAA in Tripura, even if outside ADC, will not be enough to protect the rights of the tribals. Providing citizenship to religious minorities from Bangladesh, Pakistan and Afghanistan in Tripura will increase the proportion of the non-tribal population and tribals will be further relegated to the minority status. Only a separate state for tribes within Tripura can protect them in the true sense.”He said the tribal life, culture, economy and livelihood have been under serious threat owing to continuous influx after the creation of Bangladesh in 1971 till date.

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