SHILLONG, NOV 28: TIPRA Motha founder Pradyot Bikram Manikya Deb Barma on Friday hinted at a possible amalgamation of North East political parties, emphasizing that the goal is to strengthen the region’s voice in national politics.
“We are discussing and will come up with a proper entity. We will do it in a measured and balanced way. There are many things and name (of the entity) is not important,” Deb Barma said, adding that the term “amalgamation” is more suitable than “merger” as it preserves distinct identities.
” I think amalgamate is a better word instead of calling it a merger because you take something out of me and I give something from my side to you and you will something from your side to me. I think the word amalgamation is a better word than merger because we do not want to destroy each other’s distinct identities,” he told reporters.
Deb Barma said that talks are underway with other parties and indigenous groups from Assam, but no formal announcement has been made adding that the focus is on solving problems, not symbols or names.
“I will tell you one thing whenever this happens, both Congress and BJP will have to listen to us more seriously and I think that is what we should be standing up for, and not for symbols and names and all that.”
Deb Barma highlighted that the aim of the united front is to address pressing issues such as Inner Line Permit (ILP), illegal migration, land rights, and Citizenship Amendment Act, which affect the region.
“If we come together, New Delhi will take us more seriously,” he said.
He criticized the those focusing on trivial issues and neglecting important concerns.
“Why isn’t a single question being asked about inner line permit? Why isn’t a single question being asked about Citizenship Amendment Act, why isn’t a single question being asked about a land rights? Why isn’t a single question being spoken about illegal migration? What about delimitation, after 2026? What will be our share in the parliament? When North India will get another 100 MPs and South India will get 50 MPs. How much will our share go up?” he asked.
Responding to a query, Deb Barma said the Centre is not only delaying implementation of ILP in Meghalaya but in Tripura as well.
“(Therefore) when we are all one, Centre better pay attention to us. It’s not just this (BJP led) Centre, when Congress was in Centre even they didn’t pay attention to us. I was in Congress and I was a very loyal Congressman but I know in national parties. Let me tell you when a Chief Minister from North East goes and has to wait for 10 days to get an appointment, is it fair for the people of North East? Where is the self respect gone? But if we are one they better give us appointment, they better listen to us or the people will answer and our people want us to be strong, our people don’t want us to be weak because everyone has self-respect. It’s not only the chief ministers, or the ministers or the MPs, who have self-respect, even a poor kwai seller in Motphran has self respect and we need to speak for them as well as we are talking about other people,” he concluded.
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