Tripura’s ‘Greater Tipraland’ Demand: A Controversial Issue
The demand for a separate state called ‘Greater Tipraland’ in Tripura has been gaining attention in recent years. This proposal is led by the TIPRA Motha party, which is pushing for the creation of a new state for the indigenous tribal communities of Tripura. The idea is to expand the current Tripura Tribal Areas Autonomous District Council (TTAADC) to include more areas with a significant tribal population.
The TIPRA Motha, founded in 2019 by Pradyot Bikram Manikya Debbarma, claims that the indigenous tribes are losing their cultural and political power. Historically, the tribal and non-tribal populations of Tripura were balanced, but after the partition in 1947, many refugees from East Pakistan (now Bangladesh) moved to Tripura. This shifted the demographic balance, leaving the tribal communities as a minority.
In response to the demand, Tripura’s Chief Minister Manik Saha has rejected the call for ‘Greater Tipraland.’ He emphasized that the state government is focused on the welfare of the tribal people within the current framework. Similarly, CPI-M leader Jitendra Chaudhury also dismissed the idea, calling it unrealistic and impractical due to Tripura’s geographical and demographic limitations.
While the demand for a separate state is a significant political issue, there is no truth to claims that Tripura plans to cut Bangladesh’s “Chicken’s Neck” or capture Chittagong, as such assertions are unfounded.
