Tipra Motha Absent from Rajbhasha Conference in Presence of Amit Shah, Questions Raised Over Political Signals
By Our Correspondent
Agartala, February 20, 2026
The Joint Regional Official Language (Rajbhasha) Conference, held at the International Fair Ground in Hapania, Agartala, witnessed the presence of Union Home Minister Amit Shah and Tripura Chief Minister Manik Saha, along with over three thousand delegates from eastern, northeastern, and northern regions of the country today.
The conference, organized by the Department of Official Language under the Union Ministry of Home Affairs, focused on reviewing the implementation of official language policy across states.
However, the political spotlight shifted to the notable absence of representatives from Tipra Motha, as well as opposition parties Congress and CPI(M). The absence of alliance partner Tipra Motha has triggered political speculation across the state. Observers are questioning whether the ADC administration is indirectly putting pressure on the state and central governments in the eve of upcoming TTAADC Polls, or whether Tipra Motha deliberately boycotted the high-profile event attended by the Union Home Minister.
Addressing the gathering, Amit Shah stated that there is no dispute over language or script in Tripura. His remark comes amid ongoing discussions in the state over the script to be used for Kokborok.
He emphasized the promotion of mother tongues alongside Hindi and regional languages, urging states to reduce dependence on foreign languages and strengthen Indian languages to promote inclusive governance. Shah appealed to state governments to ensure communication facilities in their respective official languages while simultaneously encouraging the wider use of Hindi as a link language to strengthen national unity.
Significantly, he advocated for the use of the Devanagari script for Kokborok, reiterating the Centre’s position on the matter. The Kokborok script issue has been widely debated in Tripura, especially in the context of demands for Roman script by certain tribal groups including Tipra Motha.
The Union Home Minister described the organization of such a large-scale Rajbhasha conference in Tripura as a commendable initiative and praised the state government for hosting the event.
Prior to Amit Shah’s arrival, the Tripura Pradesh Congress staged a protest condemning his state visit. Black flags were displayed at the Congress Bhavan, with party leaders alleging that the Centre is attempting to impose Hindi as a national language. The protest reflected opposition concerns over linguistic diversity and federal balance.
The absence of Tipra Motha from the conference, particularly during discussions surrounding Kokborok script and language policy, has intensified political debate. While no official statement was immediately issued by the Tipra Motha party regarding its non-participation, political observers suggest that the move could signal strategic positioning amid ongoing negotiations and sensitive language-related issues in the state.
With language and identity politics playing a crucial role in Tripura’s socio-political landscape, the developments surrounding the Rajbhasha conference are expected to remain a subject of public and political discourse in the coming days.
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