Political Showdown on August 9: Tipra Motha, BJP, and Congress to Observe International Indigenous People’s Day Separately; Security Tightened Across Tripura
By Our Correspondent
Agartala, August 5, 2025
As Tripura gears up to observe International Indigenous People’s Day on August 9, the political landscape is witnessing heightened activity, with Tipra Motha, BJP, and Congress announcing separate programs and rallies to mark the occasion. With tribal sentiments at the center of these events, and mass gatherings planned across the state, law enforcement agencies are under considerable pressure to maintain peace and order, especially with Independence Day just days away.
Tipra Motha, led by its founder Pradyot Kishore Debbarman, has declared August 9 as a day of cultural pride and political assertion. The party has asked all tribal people across Tripura to observe the day by wearing traditional attire, cooking indigenous meals such as Chakwi, Gudok, and Mosdeng, and celebrating their distinct cultural identity.
“Go out on that day wearing your traditional attire proudly! Cook our indigenous meals at home or share with your friends at work, school, college. Be proud of your identity,” said Pradyot in a Facebook message.
In a strong political statement, Pradyot also urged supporters to join “Homchang rallies” in the evening across the state to protest what he termed as the denial of constitutional rights by the State Election Commission, which has not yet conducted the Village Committee (VC) elections in tribal areas.
“You can belong to any party, but not holding elections in the villages is a direct denial of YOUR RIGHTS,” he emphasized, calling for a united voice from the indigenous communities.
Meanwhile, the Congress party has also announced its intention to observe the day but will avoid large rallies, opting instead for symbolic events and localized gatherings in solidarity with indigenous people.
On the other hand, the BJP Janajati Morcha is organizing a massive rally at Rabindra Bhavan in Agartala, with participation expected from tribal supporters across the state. The highlight of the event will be the presence of Chief Minister Dr. Manik Saha, making it a major show of strength by the ruling party.
With separate rallies and mass gatherings involving tribal supporters of different political parties across various regions, the Tripura Police and other law enforcement agencies are on high alert. The situation has created a challenging environment for maintaining law and order, particularly as the state prepares for Independence Day celebrations on August 15.
According to sources in the state administration, security deployment will be intensified, with a special focus on sensitive areas and potential flashpoints. Police headquarters have already issued advisories to district officials to coordinate closely with all stakeholders, ensuring that the day's events are peaceful and without incident.
The convergence of cultural pride and political assertion on August 9 is expected to send a strong message from the tribal communities of Tripura but the authorities will be watching closely to ensure the celebrations do not spill over into confrontation. But there is no confirmation from the state CPIM whether they were like to be organized any rallies on these occasions.
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