After mystery dash to Delhi by Tripura top brass, TIPRA Motha chief says ‘historic accord coming today’

On Wednesday, Pradyot Kishore Manikya Debbarma was delivering a speech during his “fast-unto-death” over the unfulfilled demand for a Greater Tipraland state, when he was interrupted by a phone call, apparently inviting him to Delhi for talks on the issue. The royal scion-turned-politician and founder of the TIPRA Motha, the primary Opposition in Tripura, rushed off, leaving the fast. On Friday, all senior Tripura leaders – from Chief Minister Manik Saha and his Cabinet ministers, to members of the Opposition, including TIPRA Motha president Bijoy Kumar Hrangkhawl – headed for Delhi.

While the impromptu visit remains shrouded in mystery, with no government official willing to say more than that it was for a likely meeting with the Union Ministry of Home Affairs, Pradyot Kishore released an audio message to his followers Saturday morning, saying: “I said I wouldn’t come back empty-handed. A historic accord is going to be signed today. So, celebrate, but not so much that we have won. We shall win when, in the coming days, we fulfill our land, constitutional, political, language, historical, economic rights. I was successful because of your love and support.”

The TIPRA Motha leader also said that all stakeholders in the tribal development process would be involved in a discussion after the accord is signed to chalk out the future course of action.

Pradyot Kishore has been under increasing pressure from his constituents over the Tipraland issue, on the basis of which his fledgling party rose to the position of the second-largest in the Assembly in the elections held last year.

Questioned by reporters over the reason for his Delhi visit at the airport, CM Saha only smiled and said, “No agenda.”

Leader of the Opposition Animesh