TIPRALAND
STATE PARTY
(TSP)
Address:-
Old kalibari Road, Krishnanagr,
West Tripura District, Agartala-799001.
Email: tipralandsp@gmail.com
936588346(M)
Date: 25 -10-2016.
To
The
Honorable Minister for Tribal Welfare Affairs
of India
Government of India
New
Delhi.
Sub:- Memorandum on the demand for Statehood of
TTAAC.
Respected Sir,
The
tribes in Tripura, are demanding elevation of Tripura Tribal Areas Autonomous District Council (TTAADC) to
Tipraland State. We have been launching movements peacefully and democratically
in the State of Tripura. Now, we are on
Sit-in-Demonstration here from October 26-27, 2016 at Jantar-Mantar, New Delhi
in support of our demand. We do have full faith in the Constitution of India.
Demographic
Invasion during 1947-1951
Sensing imminent partition of India, 4600 fled to
Tripura ( the then Hill Tipperah) from East Bengal in 1946. Thereafter, an
acute demographic invasion had taken place due partition of India since 1947
itself from East Pakistan i.e; erstwhile East Bengal. The 1951 Census was far
from accurate as the enumerators could not collect data for it. However, based on the data of 1951 Census, it can
derived that the total population of Tripura without refugees was 375,303. The
total population of tribes and non-tribes was 237,953 and 132,750(without
refugees) respectively. While the total population of refugees ( 1946 to 1951)
was sheltered in Tripura was 284004. The total population including refugees, as per 1951 Census was 654,707. The
population of tribes without refugees was 63.40%. The population of
tribes including refugees was
36.34%. 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 percentage of
the population of refugees from East Pakistan was 284,004 which constituted 43.38% of total population in 1951 Census. The
total(!) population of refugees and
tribes was 284,004(43.38%) and
237,953(36.34%) respectively. The total population of refugees was more
than the total population of the tribes in Tripura. The partition of India in
1947 had not shattered any other States by a demographic invasion as it had
created a gigantic impact upon Tripura by a way of socio-economic and political
too. The tribes of Tripura is making every effort as it is pushing them edged
end of wall for their extinction. It may kindly be noted that the population of
the tribes in Tripura was reduced to marginally minority within less than
3(three) years from the date (15-10-1949) of
Tripura’s merger with Indian Union.
Refugees
outnumbered Population of tribes in
Tripura by the 1951 Census: The Statement of
Pt. Govinda Bhallav Pant, Former Minister of India in 1956.
In the forgoing para above, it is clear that the
refugees was coming from East Pakistan (erstwhile East Bengal) in to Tripura just before and from 1947 to
1951due to partition of India itself had outnumbered the population of tribes
who were majority in the State within a span of less than three years from the date
Tripura merged with India on 15-10-1949. Pt.
Govinda Bhallav Pant said, “Tripura by now is supersaturated in terms of
population. Not a single refugee could further be accommodated in Tripura
State.” Yet the inflow of refugees from East Pakistan continued in Tripura till
it gained independence in 1971 and thereafter as illegal migrants till date. Lt. Gen (Rtd.) S.K.Sinha, PVSM said,
“The unabated influx of illegal migrants from Bangladesh in to Assam and the
consequence perceptible change in demographic pattern of the state, has been a
matter of grave concern. It threatens to reduce Assamese people to a minority
in their own state, as happened in Tripura and Sikkim.” Therefore, demographic
invasion over the population of the tribes in Tripura is uninterrupted and
rapidly pushing them to the edge wall of extinction. In order to save them from
extinction, we demand elevation of TTAADC to “Tipraland State” under Article 3
of the Constitution of India.
The
Influx of Refugees Continued
The total number
of refugees during the period of 1952-1958 was 190,000; the registration of
refugees was discontinued during 1959-1963; the influx of the refugees during
1964-1971 was 140,594 and Tripura had in total 614,598 in 26 years; that was from 1946 to 1971. It was an uninterrupted
flow of refugees in Tripura State. Perhaps,
no other tiny State other than Tripura State in India which had to encounter
such demographic invasion resulting sharp decline in the population of the
tribes that face extinct today. This demographic invasion has been taking place
since the partition of India. Therefore, we are the victims with cascading
effects of the of the partition of India in 1947 and subsequently, the victim of Bangladesh Liberation War ending
in 1971. This was the lone reason for the tribes in Tripura to become marginal minority
today. The influx of refugees from the year 1947 to 1951 was landmark that the demographic
invasion against the tribes in Tripura resulted that they reduced to
microscopic minority. 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.
The
Expectation of the Tribes in Tripura
Tripura merged
with Indian Union for the safeguards of its people; especially the tribes who
were majority before her merger. We are safe in the hands of the Government of
India with the issuance of NOTIFICATION vide
No.221P, dated 15-10-1949 in the
Ministry of States dt. 15-10-1949 in which para-5 says, “Existing laws to continue:- All laws in force in Tripura or any
part thereof immediately before the commencement of this Order shall continue
in force until repealed or amended by a competent legislature or authority;
Provided that
all powers exercisable under the said laws by His Highness the Maharaja or the
Government of the State shall be exercisable by the Chief Commissioner.”
This
notification was relevant, especially in relation to the reservation of land
made by His Highness Maharaja in 1931 and 1943 for five communities, namely;
Tripura, Reang Jamatia, Noatia and Halam. The total land reserved was 2060
square miles. The said reserved land was repealed by the Government to
facilitate rehabilitation of refugees in 1974. There was gigantic pressure upon
the all resources in Tripura due high refugee influx and it continues with
illegal infiltration in the State. This has created a clear concept in the
minds of tribes that they are going to 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
by elevation of TTAADC to a full-fledged
State “Tipraland” under Article-3 of the Constitution of India. Table-1
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
|
|
1946
(A)
|
4,600
|
-
|
-
|
This was not reflected
in the registration.
|
|
1947-51
(B)
|
279,404
|
-
|
-
|
|
|
(A)+(B)
|
284,004
(43.38)***
|
237,953
*(64.19) & (36.34)**
|
132,750
*(35.81) &(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
(C)
|
474,404
(41.54)***
|
|||
|
1959-63
|
Registration of Refugees discontinued
|
|
||
|
1964-71
(D)
|
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
|
614,598
(39.48)***
|
|||
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.
(Whatever data available with us is reproduced for
us & the objective to reflect the tribes were demographically invaded and
reduced to microscopic minority in Tripura )
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.
The
Continuous inflow of Illegal Migrants in to Tripura even after 1971:
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. There has been
estimation of the illegal migration from
Bangladesh in Tripura who are either residing in the State illegally by
acquiring documents legally by illegal means: However, this is supplemented with some more
data in a tabular form which is given below:-
Table-2
|
No. of illegal migrants (Voters)
legalized by the Election Commission of India
|
Estimated illegal migrants
|
Year
|
Remarks
|
|
135,000
|
Not
Available
|
1994
|
These illegal voters were detected
through the mechanism of Election Commission of India
|
|
Not
Available
|
800,000
|
1998*
|
|
|
Not
Available
|
325,500
|
2001*
|
|
|
Not
Available
|
65,000**
|
|
**Reported by www. tripurainfo.com on 19-02-2016.
|
N.B:-*Politics
around illegal migration from Bangladesh: With special reference to Assam and
Tripura - Minal Kanti Deb and Dr.
Arabindo Mahato in the National Seminar on Issues, Challenges & Development
held on September 11-12, 2015; organized by RGU Research Scholars Forum in
collaboration with Department of Political Science, RGU. 1998.
(Whatever data available with us is reproduced for
us & the objective to reflect the tribes were demographically invaded and
reduced to microscopic minority in Tripura )
The plight of
135,000 illegal voters in Tripura was detected by the Election Commission of
India in 1993-94 but they had been enrolled in the Electoral Roll finally.
It
is clear that 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 said 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.
The
Truth on the Actual % of the Tribes in Tripura:
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 % 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. 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. 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. Therefore, it is not difficult to perceive the % of the
tribes will get reduced when illegal migrants are legalized and granted
citizenship after the proposed amendment of the Citizenship Act, 1955.
Demand
for Elevation of TTAADC to Tipraland State
The population
of the tribes of Tripura has been invaded demographically by the refugees
population of East Pakistan (erstwhile East Bengal) & presently Bangladesh
for more than 68 years for the reasons known best to the world and the
Government of India as to how they are reduced to marginal minority in their
own land on which their 184 kings ruled before merger with India. We place our
demand before your Excellency; the head of authorities of the Government of
India to grant our demand and save us from
both the demographic invasion and extinction - as within the areas of the Tripura Tribal Areas
Autonomous District Council(TTAADC), the percentage of the population of tribes is presently
constituted at 84%. The Government of Tripura in association of TTAADC is
giving land allotment to the non-tribes within TTAADC areas. The purpose is to
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, the Government of India must grant 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.
Yours
faithfully
Sd/- 25/10/2015
(
Chitta Ranjan Debbarma, President, TSP)
N.B:- Missing link of data (if any ) will be supplemented as & when relevant data could be accessed.
