Tripura Governor D N Sahaya has attributed the rise of militancy in the state to a ‘change in Democratic pattern’ and ‘swamping of indigenous population by immigrants’, besides ‘loss of political power by tribals’. His observations came during an address to the Asian Development Research Institute in Patna. He spoke on socio economic condition of North-eastern states with special reference to Tripura. These remarks invoked protest.

Sahaya observed that surrendering political power to the new settlers displaced from the erstwhile East Pakistan following partition, the indigenous people felt insecure in their homeland, which ultimately led to the Ethnic strife. It has assumed a serious political overtone and resulted in a long drawn insurgency, not in Tripura alone but in the entire North-East region, except Sikkim," he pointed out.

What has fuelled the violence was the fear psychosis gripping the tribal population due to the demographical changes causing imbalance in their position, he said adding the fear of cultural alienation and loss of their Identity and predominance, marginalisation, inadequate development of the region, acute unemployment, frustration, anger and a sense of deprivation are the main cause for the insurgency in the State.

Sahay said, insurgency was ethno-centric with all its manifestations and what is required is an emotional integration to subside the feelings of the locals.

With this, Governor Dinesh Nandan Sahaya too followed the footprints of former Assam rifles, Deputy Inspector General, Brig Basant Kumar Panwar.

Prior to the ADC elections in 2000, Brig Panwar stirred the Hornet's nest by saying  indigenous tribals have become minority mainly due to the un-interrupted influx of Bengali speaking civilians from the neighbouring districts of Bangladesh.

Panwar's comment evoked sharp reaction both from political parties as well as from the media.

INPT president B K Hrangkhawl too tried to kick up a row on this subject at the 25th meeting of the Working Group of Indigenous People at Geneva in May 2002. His effort not only evoked protests but also the INPT-Congress alliance tasted bitter results in the assembly elections that followed. 

Chief of the banned outfit, ATTF, Ranjit Debbarma, who addressed the Geneva meeting of Indigenous population, made identical criticism. Three years later in 2000, the INPT Assistant General secretary, Sridam Debbarma also spoke on the same lines in Geneva gatherings held under the aegis of UNCHR.

In the Mandai 'Peace Meeting' held on August 5, 2002, both Chief Minister Manik Sarkar and TTAADC, Chief Executive Member Hirendra Kumar Tripura (of NSPT) spoke on the need for peaceful co-existence between the tribals and non tribals just like in the days of yore. During the Manikya kings, the territory of Tripura extended to Chakla Roshanabad in Comilla and Brahmanbaria district (known as Tipperah) which were dominated by Bengali speaking people. They also used to pay tax and royalties to the Manikya kings. But, the exact number of Bengali speaking population was not enumerated then, they pointed.

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