AGARTALA, Jan 16 - Three tribal-based parties � INPT, IPFT and NCT � have jointly called a 12-hour strike in TTAADC area on February 8 next.
At a press conference at Agartala Press Club, anti-Left tribal leaders on Monday said although each party will have a separate entity in the day-to-day affairs, they will join hands when it comes to the interests of indigenous people.
The new anti-Left platform � All Tripura Indigenous Regional Parties (ATIRP) would observe the bandh protesting the Central Government�s move to amend the Indian Citizenship Act. NC Debbarma of IPFT has been made convener of the ATIRP, while Jagadish Debbarma (INPT) and Animesh Debbarma (NCT) would act as Joint Secretaries. �After a lot of discussion, the leaders have decided to join hands for spearheading a united movement for the cause of indigenous people�, said INPT president Bijoy Kumar Hrangkhawl.
�We will organise a peaceful movement highlighting the problems of indigenous people since they are facing a lot of trouble due to infiltration�, he said. Jagadish Debbarma, INPT general secretary said, �The BJP-led government has been trying to provide citizenship status to foreigners. States like Assam and Tripura are facing trouble due to infiltration of foreign nationals. If the Bill is passed in the Lok Sabha, lakhs of foreigners will get citizenship which could be a serious threat to the indigenous people.�
The move bringing all three major tribal-based parties together is seen as politically important keeping in mind next year�s Assembly elections. However, it is said IPFT and INPT wanted to tie up with BJP but the saffron brigade did not show much interest in forging alliance with them.
If INPT, IPFT and NCT remain intact till the 2018 Assembly polls, then the political equation in tribal belts would get a new twist, according to political analysts. The 60-member Assembly has 20 reserved seats for ST which is considered crucial in forming a government in Tripura.
