Slogans of ‘Poila Jati Ulo Party’ (Jati first, party later), ‘Maharaj
Ki Jay’ and ‘Withdraw Citizenship Bill’ rang out loud and clear at a
massive protest rally against the legislation at Khumulwng, headquarters
of the Tripura Tribal Areas Autonomous Territorial Council, on
Wednesday.
The anti-citizenship bill agitation was called by Tripura United
Indigenous People’s Council (TUIPC), a joint body of 48 returnee
insurgent organisations in the state. However, different tribal
political parties like Indigenous Nationalist Party of Twipra (INPT),
National Conference of Tripura (NCT), IPFT Tipraha – a breakaway faction
of Tripura’s ruling tribal ally IPFT – joined the agitation today.
Addressing the rally, Tripura royal scion Pradyot Kishore Manikya
Debbarma, whom all anti-citizenship bill protesters unilaterally
accepted as their leader, said the Bill would bring division and peril
to Northeast India if passed. He also said that people of Tripura would
not allow the Centre to pass the Bill in Rajya Sabha or enforce it
through an ordinance.
“Entire Tripura is against the Citizenship Amendment Bill. This
doesn’t have to do anything with religion, community or any other
identity. This vote bank politics is being played by the (central)
government at Delhi. This bill will divide our society. This is not a
fight of any particular community but we will fight it together,”
Tripura royal scion Pradyot Kishore Manikya told a massive gathering of
15,000 people at Khumulwng Motorstand this afternoon.
Pradyot Kishore, who is also the Working President of Tripura Pradesh Congress, today said that BJP-led
NDA placed the Citizenship Amendment Bill three months before the
Parliament elections to divide and polarise people of the country.
“Placing this Bill three months before the election means you want to
divide and polarise the people and win taking advantage of the
situation. We are opposing the Citizenship Amendment Bill Across
political party lines. There is no banner or flags. This is a
non-political rally. There is only one want Poila Jati Ulo Party,” he
said.
Later today, a group of agitators garlanded an effigy of Prime
Minister Narendra Modi with shoes and slippers as a sign of protest
against the citizenship bill and held a 6-km long rally from
Dasharampara till Khumulwng Motorstand. The protesters also walked with
black flags to protest the legislation.
Tight security was seen in and around the protest venue.
Speaking to indianexpress.com, an official from Tripura state police
headquarters said the rally was held peacefully and there was no report
of violence. However, tight security was maintained ahead of the
movement to avert any untoward situation, he informed.
Former All Tripura Tiger Force (ATTF) supremo and TUIPC chief Ranjit
Debbarma said the citizenship bill would endanger identity and existence
of people in Northeast India.
“This bill, if passed, will cause job opportunity, availability of
resources to further shrink. It will be dangerous if the Bill is passed
in the Rajya Sabha or enforced through an ordinance,” Ranjit told
reporters after the rally.
Kahamjoy Tripura, a Tripuri youth from Jirania sub-division who came
to join the rally today, said he would support the protesters with all
might. “This Bill is bad for us. Maharaja is right. We should think
about our identity first and then about politics. All tribal community
is with him,” he said.
