Indigenous Nationalist Party of Tripura has taken initiative to unite regional parties to voice demand for National Register of Citizens (NRC) in entire northeastern region. Upbeat over conclusion of the exercise in Assam, the Party began voicing demand for the same in Tripura.
INPT General Secretary Jagadish Debbarma said they will hold a ‘huge’ rally at Khumulwng, headquarters of Tripura tribal autonomous district council, on September 24 to press two major demands – implementation of the NRC and withdrawal of proposed Citizenship Amendment Bill.
Mr. Debbarma on Monday informed his Party has been in touch with the regional parties in other States with an intention to create a confederation “to consolidate movement to achieve the demands”. Top leaders of mainstream regional parties have been invited to the rally.
INPT’s ploys however seen as efforts to revive its base in tribal areas ahead of elections to the tribal autonomous district council due in early next year. INPT has been a traditional ally of the Congress and the alliance expected to continue in council’s election.
Regional parties always have a tendency to cultivate sensitive issues that concern State’s indigenous population which reduced to minority over the decades owing to migration and infiltration of non-tribals from across the international border.
There is however a difference between regional parties in other northeastern States and Tripura as parties like INPT and others accept cut-off year 1971 for detection and deportation of foreigners. In other States, demand is for 1952 as cut-off year.
INPT also moved the Supreme Court seeking an order for imposition of NRC in Tripura. A few other regional parties have followed the suit.
