Agartala, Oct 14: Meghalaya Chief Minister Conrad K. Sangma on Saturday made a clarion call to the indigenous communities of Northeast India to stand united to protect their identity, land, culture and customs.

Addressing a mega rally at Tripura Tribal Areas Autonomous District Council (TTAADC) headquarter Khumlung organized by principal opposition party of the state TIPRA Motha on Saturday, Sangma urged the indigenous communities of Northeast India to join hands leaving aside all differences to ensure a constitutional solution for the tribals of the region.

“I want to tell my brethren in Tiprasa that your sorrows and worries, your difficulties, the different issues raised by you… I have come here to support you and work with you,” he said while adding that many people had questioned him about attending the political rally of TIPRA Motha, helmed by TMP leader and former royal scion, Pradyot Bikram Manikya Deb Barman. “I told them that I am going to meet my Tiprasa brothers and sisters, and for that, I don’t need anyone’s permission. I also came to meet Maharaja and I also want to give this message that I am along with the Tiprasa,” he said.

Referring to the demand of Greater Tipraland for the tribals of Tripura, and even addressing the gathering as Tiprasa, he urged them not to give up on their demand. He asked them to continue with their work towards their demand so that their future generations can reap the benefits of their hard work.

This is the first time that Conrad Sangma, also the national president of National People’s Party (NPP), has displayed solidarity with the Tipra Motha Party (TMP) and its main demand for a separate tribal state ‘Greater Tipraland’.

Acknowledging the contributions of different leaders of the North East in raising the issues and challenges faced by the indigenous communities of the region at different platforms and levels, he said, “Different leaders from different parts of the North East have raised the issues of region at various platforms… their paths, ways and approach may have been different but their objective was the same.”

Following on their footsteps, he said contemporary leaders also need to voice the concerns of the North East’s indigenous communities, to safeguard their land, ideologies, culture, and future generations.

At the same time, he stressed that they are not against anybody and the region wants to walk alongside with the rest of India. “We want to work with everyone and move forward together. But if there is an attempt to seize our precious land, alter our customs and culture, jeopardize our youth’s future, or harm our mothers and sisters, if there is any endeavor to destroy the future of our upcoming generation, then we will not remain silent. We will never accept such a thing,” he asserted.

Sangma further underscored the unbreakable bond among the diverse indigenous communities of the North East and impressed upon the gathering for unity for their mutual strength and support. “We may have different languages but we have a connection, we have a link that we cannot break and that is why we must stay together, we must support each other. So, when it is an issue of Tiprasa, we, the rest of the communities from the NE, must be with you, support you, walk with you, and work with you,” he said.

He also reflected on the democratic set-up of India where numbers are important for voices to carry weight. “If we are divided, become smaller in numbers, we will fall down. We live in a democracy, so the numbers matter to us; our unity is very important, and we must support each other,” he urged.

CM Sangma was accompanied by four Meghalaya MLAs to the mega rally.

Meanwhile, TMP leader and former royal scion, Pradyot Bikram Manikya Deb Barman, voiced unwavering commitment to their demands and the fight for the democratic rights of the 15 lakh tribals in Tripura.

Deb Barman announced plans for a larger agitation following the festive season and called upon all tribal communities to unite in addressing tribal issues collectively.

He asserted, “We fought for our rights and not power, which will come and go. We want our rights. We are not against any community. We are fighting democratically, and they should stop trying to buy us. This fight for the democratic right of Greater Tipraland has to revive after Puja, and in November, we shall do something to awaken New Delhi.”

TMP secured 13 seats in the 60-member state Assembly, becoming the second-largest party after the ruling BJP in the Assembly polls held in February, earning the status of the main opposition party.

On September 30, TMP observed a 12-hour shutdown in areas under the TTAADC, encompassing over two-thirds of Tripura’s 10,491 sq km area.

Read: Payal Cinema in Police Bazar gutted in massive fire, 2 feared trapped

WATCH:

Find latest news from every corner of Northeast India at hubnetwork.in, your online source for breaking news, video coverage.

Also, Follow us on-

Twitter-twitter.com/nemediahub

Youtube channel- www.youtube.com/@NortheastMediaHub2020

Instagram- www.instagram.com/nemediahub