Agartala: Veteran tribal leader Harinath Debbarma, who had once extended support to the cause of ‘Greater Tipraland’ before the crucial TTAADC elections through a video message raised several questions on the concept of Greater Tipraland.
Debbarma felt the idea of Greater Tipraland is still ambiguous to many and it needs further clarity. The veteran leader, considered to be one of the pioneer politicians of tribal politics who founded Tripura Upajati Juba Samiti (TUJS) and later Indigenous People’s Front of Tripura (IPFT) with some of his friends, said, “The concept needs further clarity and the leaders should come vocal on the matter. We don’t know whether it will be limited to the TTAADC areas only or it will cover the whole region beyond the political borders”.
Debarma also sought to know whether the TTAADC had any plans to expand it beyond the territorial borders of TTAADC, including the general areas. “Will it cover the general areas also? I have asked for a copy of the Greater Tipraland resolution passed in the TTAADC council but the officials did not allow me to have a copy of it. People are eager to know about the geographical map of Greater Tipraland," he added.
His statement made it clear that despite repeated clarifications, Pradyot Kishore Debbarman’s Greater Tipraland concept failed to satisfy its own leaders. The minor fissures of dissent that started to develop within the TIPRA Motha are now turning into visible cracks and Pradyot’s dream of “Thansa (unity)” seems to be falling upside down.
Similarly, advocate Haridhan Debbarma also raised the same question on Greater Tipraland Bill. The video clip of Harinath Debbarma seeking clarifications went viral on social media and drew a wide audience.
Responding to the matter, royal scion Pradyot Kishore Deb Barman said that it was an attempt to weaken him. “I have seen the viral video of veteran leader Harinath Debbarma asking for clarification on my Greater Tipraland map. I have never expected such questions from such a senior leader when I have always respected him and complimented him. You are just trying to weaken me and compromise my last fight for our people," Deb Barman told Kokborok news channel.
According to him, most politicians are career-centric which prevents them from working for people. "It’s been 72 years, we have never respected each other and appreciate each other that’s why we are in this position. Where were you when IPFT handed 11 seats to BJP and fought only with nine seats? Now my party is going to fight for 30 seats and you didn’t have a problem with IPFT at that time. You see politics as a career but I want my people to believe that together we can make it possible," he added.
