TIPRALAND STATE PARTY
(TSP)
A registered political party with the Election Commission
of India
(Registration No. 56/199/2015-17/PPS-I )
An Appeal
FOR SUPPORT TO THE
CAUSE OF THE INDIGENOUS PEOPLE(19 TRIBES) OF TRIPURA WHO ARE DEMANDING
ELEVATION OF TRIPURA TRIBAL AREAS AUTONOMOUS DISTRICT COUNCIL(TTAADC) TO A FULL
FLEDGED STATE “TIPRALAND” FOR THEIR SURVIBILTY OR EXISTENCE UNDER ARTICLE 3 of
THE CONSTITUTION OF INDIA.
Tripura was a
princely State ruled by 184 kings before her merger with India on 15th
October, 1949 AD. The Tipperahs who are presently known as Tipras or Tripuris
including 19 different tribes who were
majority prior to the merger of their independent State with India. The
independence was based on the bi-nations theory based on religions – the
Hinduism and the Islamism. As a result, the partition of India in to Hindustan
in the form of Bharat or India and Pakistan emerged as independent States on 15th
August and 14th August respectively in 1947 AD. 55% of the total population of Bengal was Muslims who
belonged to East Bengal part of the then Bengal. This does not mean that there
were no Muslims in West Bengal. The heart of the issue is that the partition
had resulted lakhs of refugees from East Pakistan (erstwhile East Bengal) to
come to Tripura since 1947 AD itself as East Bengal or East Pakistan or
presently Bangladesh due partition and birth of Bangladesh in 1971 AD.
Apparently, it may lead to perception that influx of refugees from Bangladesh
have come to a stand still. Unfortunately, it has not. The issue of intrusion
of illegal immigration is taking place every day. It is difficult to identify
them in the midst of lakhs of refugees who are already here in this State from
1947-1971. Perhaps, the numbers of
illegal immigrations in the State have exceeded in quadruple to the number of
refugees who came during the period of
1947-1971.
Therefore,
our demand is for elevation of Tripura
Tribal Areas Autonomous District Council (TTAADC) to Tipraland State for
the reasons that the indigenous people (include 19 tribes) were majority before
Tripura merged with India attained independence on 15th August, 1947
AD. The princely Tripura State merged with India on 15th October,
1949 AD. Sooner the India attained independence, the swamp of refugees in terms
of lakhs in number came in to Tripura which continued almost in uninterrupted
manner till the birth of Bangladesh as independent country in 1971 AD. Today,
the indigenous people (19 tribes) have been reduced to microscopic minority in
their own homeland. They are the victim of the circumstances of the refugees
influx which is the interplay of the partition of this country in 1947 AD; that
has stretched up to the Bangladesh liberation war in 1971 AD. Besides, there is
no little scope to presume that the intensity of illegal immigration from
Bangladesh have been checked by the Government machineries so deployed and it
has come to a complete stopped till date. The intrusion of illegal immigration
is taking place every day. If this trend
of illegal influx continues uninterruptedly; the percentage of population of
indigenous people (19 tribes ) will turn in to insignificant one in the next
10(ten) years or so. The existing TTAADC would by then be no longer relevant
when the population of indigenous tribes would get reduced to microscopic
minority as the TTAAD is presently being ruled by CPI(M) which has been giving
allotment of land within its area to at least 10,000 families in a year. Today,
their existence is threatened within 69th year of Tripura’s merger
with India. In fact, no other State is suffering from such setback due to
refugees problem in India. They need to be saved from being extinct; like the
aboriginal people in Andaman. Tripura
merged with India was for her indigenous (all most all 19 tribes are of
Mongolian origin ) people’s all round socio-political and economic development
with sustainability; and security including the issue their survival or
existence but not for making her indigenous people get reduced to microscopic
minority and finally threatened its survival today. Therefore, the only alternative before us to
demand elevation of the TTAADC to
full-fledged State under Article 3 of the Constitution of India and the
Government of India to shoulder onus by granting statehood in order to save us
from extinction so as to enable us to survive.
2.
The last King of Tripura Maharaja Bir Bikram Kishore Manikya Debbarma reserved
plain land for his indigenous people in two spells in 1931 AD and in 1943 AD respectively. The most of the said
land so reserved for them went out of their hands illegally to the hands of
refugees although the para 5 of NOTIFICATION of the Government of India in the
Ministry of States vide No.221-P, dated 15th October, 1949 says,
“All laws in force in Tripura or any part thereof immediately before the
commencement of this Order shall continue to be in force until repealed or
amended by a competent legislature or authority; provided that all powers
exercisable under the said laws by His
the Maharaja or the Government of the State shall be exercisable by the
Chief Commissioner.” This provision of law was violated since 1949 itself and
innumerable refugees who came to Tripura right from 1947 from East Pakistan
(erstwhile East Bengal) encroached in to the said reserved land. This was how
the indigenous tribes in Tripura were dislodged from the reserved land. Today,
they are pushed to the edge of the wall – endangered.
3. We have been launching movements peacefully
and democratically in the State of Tripura. We do have faith in the
Constitution of India and the power vested therein. We have become victims of
being reduced to minority by the victim refugees of the erstwhile East Bengal
or East Pakistan or presently Bangladesh due to partition of India in 1947
and Bangladesh Liberation War in 1971.
According to 1951 Census,
the total population of Tripura without refugees was 375,303 ( by adding figure of Col.3 & 4 of the Table-2 below) and the total
refugees sheltered or settled down in Tripura within a period of 24
years from 1947
to 1971 was 609,998 (excluding growth after the refugees
sheltered or settled). However, the figure itself was more than its natural
population in Tripura. It may kindly be
noted that the Population Census in 1951
had not been properly conducted as some reactionary disruptive group was active
in the tribal belt in Tripura. Besides, the Enumerators carried out enumeration
without pay visits to the households in
tribal hamlets; rather they had visited market in the tribal hamlets areas and
collected information sitting in the tea stalls. Therefore, the population
figure on the tribes of Tripura as per 1951
Census was inaccurate and unreliable. The population of Tribes in Tripura
should not be less than 93%.
In the words of Dr. Ashok Kapur, “…….., whereas Tripura had witness demographic
inversion. The tribal population of Tripura, which was 93 percent in 1947 has
been reduced to a minority of 23% of its 3.19 million population
today. The changing demographic balance, economic pressures and awareness
resulted in tribal resentment, which grew with the unabated influx of migrants.
It is difficult to assess the quantum of immigration since no such data is
available; ………the decadal growth birth rate indicates the maximum influx has
taken place in to Tripura after 1950
which will evident from data given as under:-
Table-1
|
Census
Year
|
Tribal
Population
|
Others
|
Decadal Growth rate
|
|
|
Tribal
|
Other
|
|||
|
1951*
|
237953
|
367297
|
(-)7.41
|
43.46
|
|
1961
|
360070
|
662210
|
51.32
|
80.29
|
|
1971
|
450544
|
912938
|
25.13
|
37.86
|
|
1981
|
583920
|
1158754
|
29.60
|
25.37
|
|
1991
|
853345
|
1452744
|
46.14
|
25.37
|
|
2001
|
1098820
|
1991180
|
28.76
|
36.48
|
Source:-
Demographic
Invasion of India from North East-Indian Defence Review by Dr. Ashok Kapur.
*The Population
Census in 1951 had not been
properly conducted.
4. As per 2011 Census, the total population of Tripura is 36,72,000 & the growth was owing to historic
partition of India forced Tripura to share its all resources and created an
impact on socio-economic and political too. This is a demographic invasion
against our tribes in Tripura which is resulting their gradual extinction.
Perhaps, no other tribes or race who
have to encounter such demographic invasion in such short period that they face
today. Therefore, we are the victims with cascading effects of the victim
refugees of the partition of India in 1947 and Bangladesh Liberation War ending
in 1971. This was the lone reason for the tribes in Tripura to become minority
within less than 3(three) years from the date of Tripura merged with India on
15-10-1949. The influx of refugees from the year 1947
to 1951 was landmark demographic invasion
against the tribes in Tripura resulted that they reduced to minority and it is
taking place continuously even today. There is no other option or alternative
before us but to demand for elevation of TTAADC to a full-fledged “Tipraland”
statehood within the framework and under Article 3 of the Constitution of India for the
fact that the population of our tribes will get reduced to insignificant
percentage or to the state of extinction in the next two decade or so from now.
Had there been no such enormous influx of refugees in the State of Tripura, the
present demand for Tipraland State would in no way have arisen. Tripura merged
with Indian Union for the safeguards of its people; especially the tribes who
were majority before her merger. The tribes
will extinct gradually without safeguards under the Article 3 of the Constitution of India without
the elevation of TTAADC to a full fledged State a right of self determination.
Tripura acceded to Indian Union on 15-10-1949 for safeguards. This should be upheld
by granting an elevation of TTAADC to a
full fledged State “Tipraland” under Article 3 of the Constitution.
Table-2
The
Influx of Refugees in Tripura from 1947 to 1971
|
Years(s)
|
No. of
refugees registered
|
Population
of tribes
|
Population of Non-tribes
|
Total
(Including Refugees)
|
|
1
|
2
|
3
|
4
|
5
|
|
1947-51
|
279,404
(42.68)***
|
237,953
*(63.40) & (36.34)**
|
137,350
*(36.60) &(20.96)**
|
654,707
(as per 1951 Census)
|
|
1952-58
|
190,000
|
360,070
*(53.53) & (31.53)**
|
312,531
*(47.47) & (27.37)**
|
11,42,005
(as per 1961 Census)
|
|
Sub-Total
(A)
|
469,404
(41.10)***
|
|||
|
1959-63
|
Registration of Refugees discontinued
|
|
||
|
1962-71
(B)
|
140,594
|
450,544
*(47.61)
& (28.95)**
|
495,800
*(52.39) & (31.86)**
|
15,56,342
( as per 1971 Census)
|
|
Total of (A) & (B) of Col. 2
|
609,998
(39.19)***
|
|||
|
|
|
|
|
|
N.B:- Figure in
the parenthesis indicate percentage. * (one esterric) indicate percentage of of
the population of tribes & non-tribes excluding the population of refugees
and **(two esteric) indicate the percentage of population of the tribes and
non-tribes including the population of the refugees.
Source:- Author Gayatri Bhattacharyya in her book titled “Refugee Rehabilitation
and its Impact on Tripura’s Economy”, Omsons Publication, Guwahati, 1988, p.14.
5. The above information on refugees
in Tripura since the Partition of India in 1947 and the first concluded
Population Census in 1951 in the State clearly stated that the population of
tribes was 63.40% excluding the population of the refugees from East Pakistan (
erstwhile East Bengal ) but they were 36.34%
taking account of the refugee population.
6. The decadal (1951-61)
percentage increase in tribes was 33.91%
& non-tribes(excluding refugees) was 56.05%.
The decadal increase in percentage in respect of non-tribes was highly
alarming. Since decadal percentage
increase in respect of tribes was 33.91;
it could not be more than this % increase in case of non-tribes too. The excess
increase in percentage of non-tribes by 22.14
more than tribes was due to increase in the population of refugees by way of
natural growth after they took refuge in Tripura or some more unaccounted
refugees came from across the border which could not be ruled out.
7. It was almost as soon as Tripura
merged with Indian dominion within less than 3(three) years; the population of
tribes that was commanding majority had witnessed vigorous demographic
invasion. The population of tribes without refugees would have been about 90%. The household to household enumeration which
could not be held due to remoteness and far flung areas in the State. There was
a habit of frequent shifting amongst the tribes households from one place to
the other. The demographic invasion that had been taking place since 1947 to
1971 and has been continuing thereafter too.
8. Tripura has been experiencing
illegal intrusions occurring even after cut off date 24th March,
1971. The cases of illegal migration from Bangladesh has surfaced through a
seminar paper on “Politics around illegal migration from Bangladesh: With
special reference to Assam and Tripura”
submitted by Shri Minal Kanti Deb
and Dr. Arabindo Mahato in the National Seminar on “Issues, Challenges &
Development” held on September 11-12, 2015; organized by Rajiv Gandhi
University Research Scholars Forum in collaboration with Department of
Political Science, RGU. The proceedings of the paper has been published by the
Authors Press: ISBN 978-93-5207-161-6: Q-2A Hauz Khas Enclave, New Delhi-1100016. The said seminar
paper stated that a horrible statistics is being indicated in case of Tripura,
the number of illegal migrants had managed to entered was 800,000 and 325,400
in 2001. It proves the extent of corruption in regards to providing citizenship
in this State of Tripura, while there was no witness of push-back in to
Bangladesh. Therefore, there is uninterrupted flow of illegal migrants in the
State. The irony is; the illegal
migrants are living in the State under the guise of language and cultural
affinity and under the patronage of the political in power; which the
Government of Tripura is definitely aware about it but is not paying any heed
to it for the reasons best known to it. Therefore,
illegal migration is continuing even after the cut off date (24-03-1971) as per
Indira-Mujib Pact. We are certain that the numbers of such illegal migrants are
yet to have an actual estimation in Tripura. The numbers would be more than
what has been revealed in the seminar paper as submitted by those scholars. The
amendment of the Citizenship Act, 1955 is imminent by the both houses of
Parliament. Perhaps; the Government of Tripura might come up
with the estimated figures of illegal migrants after the amendment of the
Citizenship Act, 1955; or they will be granted citizenships silently and
without notice.
9.
An all party meeting was organized by the Government of Tripura on the
issues of the development of tribes in Tripura which was held on February 26,
1992. It was just a year after the population census 1991 concluded. The
representative of the then opposition Party in the Tripura Legislative Assembly
submitted a written statement submitted in the said meeting. The points;
inter-alia of the said submitted statement were
the population of tribes was 23% in the State; the illegal intruders
should be confined in a camp and be deported; intrusion of illegal Bangladeshis
in TTAADC areas should be prevented in order that the population of tribes was
not reduced; and Inner line Permit should be introduced in TTAADC. It may kindly
be noted that the percentage of tribes
in the State was shown to be 28.5% in 1991 Census. In other words; the reality
was that the matter concoction of determining the percentage of tribes surfaced
to the opposition political party. The Government of Tripura could sense its
implication. Although the actual percentage was 23; but to burry the issue; the
percentage of tribes in 1991 census was settled at 28.5%. When the actual %
tribes was 23% according to 1991 census; then we subsequent two more censuses
in 2001 and 2011. Since the actual percentage of Tribes in Tripura was 23 in
1991; taking in to consideration of the said above estimated illegal migration
in 1998 and 2001; of course, the trend of illegal migrants from Bangladesh
continues even thereafter; the present % of the tribes population in Tripura
should even be less than 17.
10.
It was also seen that 135,000
illegal voters in Tripura was detected by the Election Commission of India
in 1994 but they had been enrolled in the Electoral Roll finally.
11. As per news report as published
in the local daily “Syandan Patrika” on 09-05-2017 which stated that 1,48,000
fake voters were detected in the electoral roll in 2012 before the General
Election to the Tripura Legislative Assembly-2013 and Mr. Binode Saxena, Joint
Secretary to the Election Commission of India on having supervised on the issue
declared that these were fake Bangladeshi voters who would be deleted from the
electoral roll. But these fake Bangladeshi voters were not deleted from the Electoral
roll for the reasons not known.
Therefore, the tribes of Tripura were pushed towards another step to
insignificant; their existence need to be safeguarded within the framework of
the Constitution of India. Therefore, we demand elevation of TTAADC to Tipraland
State under Article-3 of the
Constitution of India.
12.
It is not difficult to perceive the percentage of the tribes will get
reduced when illegal migrants are granted citizenship after the proposed
amendment of the Citizenship Act, 1955.
In view of
uninterrupted enormous illegal migration in the State and in TTAADC, the
percentage of the population of tribes is presently constituted at 84% and 23%
in the State who have been majority and reduced to minority due to refugees
influx; and the Government of Tripura in association of TTAADC is giving land
allotment to the non-tribes within TTAADC areas with a purpose is to further
reduce or bring down the percentage of tribes population for letting the Sixth
Schedule lose its relevancy. The State is working out to achieve this goal. The
achievement of this goal would imply that the tribes would lose the right to
demand for safeguards under the Article-3 of the Constitution of India; because
the population of the tribes in TTAADC will lose majority by then. This is a wake up call for
the Government of India to provide safeguards to the tribes in Tripura by
granting Tipraland State. The centre of our focal point should be on
development activities; but after extinction of these tribes; development activities
should be for whom? Therefore, we appeal
you to kindly uphold and support our cause for granting constitutional
safeguards to the tribes in Tripura by way of elevation of the TTAADC to a full
fledged State “Tipraland” under Article-3 of the Constitution of India.
