Agartala, March 15 (NationPress) The Chief Minister of Tripura, Manik Saha, on Sunday, expressed his disapproval towards certain individuals who claim to represent the indigenous “Thansa” (unity) community, but, as he pointed out, fail to communicate in the community’s language.

Saha accused the Tripura Tribal Areas Autonomous District Council (TTAADC) administration of fostering a climate of “anarchy and corruption”.

These statements were made as he welcomed 1,336 families, totaling 3,189 voters, who joined the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) at the Rabindra Shatabarshiki Bhawan.

During his address, he noted that leaders who advocate for “Thansa” politics by solely speaking in Hindi are “problematic for Tripura”.

He further alleged that some of these leaders have aspirations of becoming the Chief Minister of the state.

“Today, we spoke in our mother tongue, and we take pride in it. While many discuss Thansa, few understand the Thansa language. Some communicate only in Hindi and utilize Devanagari. What kind of Thansa leader is that?” he questioned.

Saha highlighted that several tribal leaders within the BJP converse in indigenous languages, mentioning former MP Rebati Tripura and Tribal Welfare Minister Bikas Debbarma, who communicate in Kokborok, as well as Industries Minister Santana Chakma, who speaks both Kokborok and Chakma.

“To lead the Thansa people, one must be knowledgeable about the community’s language and culture,” he emphasized.

The Chief Minister also claimed that some political groups have exploited school students during protests concerning the Kokborok script issue.

He reiterated that transitioning to the Roman script for Kokborok is not feasible, a stance that aligns with directives from central leadership.

Regarding political dynamics in the tribal areas, Saha commented that the operations of the TTAADC reflect the potential consequences if such leadership were to gain power at the state level.

“The ongoing anarchy and corruption in the ADC without them being Chief Minister illustrates what might transpire if they were to actually assume that role,” he stated.

Simultaneously, Saha indicated that the BJP is open to discussions with the Tipra Motha Party (TMP), which he referred to as a political ally.

However, he cautioned that dialogue cannot persist if party members face attacks.

In his remarks on the BJP government’s representation of tribal communities, Saha noted that five out of the twelve ministers in the state Cabinet are from the Janajati (tribal) community.

He also pointed out that significant constitutional roles, such as the Chairperson of the Tripura Public Service Commission (TPSC) and the Speaker of the Assembly, are occupied by leaders from tribal backgrounds.

“For the Janajati people to witness development and progress, it can only be achieved through the BJP,” he asserted, adding that the party has launched numerous initiatives for the welfare of indigenous communities.

Among those at the event were BJP state president Rajib Bhattacharjee, former MP Rebati Tripura, and ministers Bikas Debbarma and Santana Chakma, along with other leaders.

Since 2021, the Tipra Motha Party, led by Pradyot Bikram Manikya Debbarma, has managed the politically crucial 30-member TTAADC, which consists of 28 elected members and two appointed by the state government.

In the 2021 TTAADC elections, the BJP contested 11 seats, winning nine, while an Independent candidate supported by the BJP also emerged victorious.

The TMP secured 18 seats and took control of the council from the CPI-M-led Left Front.