Meghalaya Chief Minister Conrad K. Sangma on Saturday said that all tribal and indigenous communities in the northeast must be united and raise their voice jointly to protect the life, culture, language and traditions of the people of the region.
Addressing a mega rally in Tripura in the Tribal Areas Autonomous District Council (TTAADC) headquarters at Khumulwng in western Tripura, the Meghalaya CM said if anybody tries to damage the life, culture, language and traditions of the indigenous people "we would fight jointly".
"We have to protect the future of our youths. We would not remain silent against any deprivation to the tribals and indigenous people," Sangma said adding "we have to be confident that one day our dream would be fulfilled".
Saying that "we are not against any community or any individuals", he said that leaders from the northeast for many years time to time raised various demands of the tribals and indigenous people of the region in different ways but still there are many things to achieve.
The mammoth rally was organised by the Tipra Motha Party (TMP), which is now governing the TTAADC, in support of its demand for a 'Greater Tipraland State' or a separate state status for the tribals under Articles 2 and 3 of the Constitution.
The TMP in support of its demands on September 30 observed a 12-hour shutdown in the areas under the TTAADC, which has a jurisdiction on over two-thirds of Tripura's 10,491 sq km area and is home to over 12,16,000 people, of which around 84 per cent are tribals.
Addressing the rally, the Meghalaya Chief Minister said that there are similarities of life, culture, language and traditions among the tribal communities of the region, and "that is why, we should remain united and live together and we would take your issues to the Parliament".
Sangma, who is also the chief of the National People's Party (NPP), attended the rally along with four MLAs of Meghalaya.
The NPP is heading the six-party coalition Meghalaya Democratic Alliance (MDA) government in the hill state.
Meanwhile, TMP supremo and former royal scion Pradyot Bikram Manikya Deb Barman while addressing the rally said that they would not compromise to achieve their demands.
"We would continue to fight for achieving the democratic rights of 15 lakh tribals in Tripura... they (tribals) are deprived... and tribal dominated areas remain backward," he said, criticising the national media for not adequately covering the issues of Manipur and other northeastern states.
Announcing a bigger agitation after the festive season, Deb Barman urged all communities of tribals to come together to raise the tribal issues unitedly.
Highlighting the 'Greater Tipraland State' demand, the TMP secured 13 seats in the 60-member state Assembly, and became the second single-largest party after the ruling BJP in the Assembly polls held in February to get the main opposition party status.
International rights body expresses concern over persecution of Hindus in B'desh
The Global Bengali Hindu Coalition (GBHC), a Toronto-based rights body, on Friday raised serious concerns over rising persecution of Hindus in Bangladesh and urged the world communities to take steps to stop the atrocities on minorities in the neighbouring country.
Alert along Tripura-Mizoram-B’desh border after reports of cross-border movement of militants
Security forces including the Border Security Force (BSF) are on a high alert after reports of movement of militants from Bangladesh along the Tripura and Mizoram borders, officials said on Friday.
Tripura govt gives special priority to education for backward classes, girls: CM Saha
The Tripura government has been given special priority to the development of the educational infrastructure in the state and is working to provide quality education to children from all sections of society, especially, backward classes and girls, Chief Minister Manik Saha said here on Thursday.
In a first, Agartala Book Fair begins without any participation from Bangladesh
The Agartala Book Fair began here on Thursday with colourful ceremonies, albeit minus the participation of any booksellers and publishers from Bangladesh -- for the first time -- in view of the unrest in the neighbouring country.
Tripura govt to move bill giving retirement benefits to MLAs who served even for a day
A bill would be moved in the Winter session of the Tripura Assembly amending the existing law to provide retirement benefits to MLAs who have served even for just a day, officials said on Thursday.
Urbania bus service flagged off for tourists; Govt prioritizes development of tourism, says Minister Sushanta Chowdhury
In yet another boost to the state tourism sector, Minister Sushanta Chowdhury on Wednesday flagged off Urbania bus services for the tourists and said that the government has prioritized development of tourism industry to create new employment opportunities.
Tripura gets Chief Information Commissioner after over 3 years
Governor Indra Sena Reddy Nallu on Tuesday administered oath to Binoy Shankar Mishra as the state Chief Information Commissioner (CIC) at a simple ceremony at the Raj Bhavan.
Wild elephant hit by speeding train in Tripura succumbs to injuries
A 35-year-old wild elephant, critically injured by a speeding train in Tripura’s Khowai district, succumbed to its injuries late Monday night, officials said on Tuesday.