Greater Tipraland, Demand of Tripura - IE - 09/12/22
Context:
Recently, chief of a political party of Tripura led a two-day dharna at Jantar Mantar, New Delhi, to raise the demand for a “Greater Tipraland”.
The objective is to secure the rights of indigenous communities in the state.
Relevance:
GS2, GS3 - Internal security
About:
-->Demand:
-The party is demanding a separate state of ‘Greater Tipraland’ for the indigenous communities of the north-eastern state.
-They want the Centre to carve out the separate state under Article 2 and 3 of the Constitution.
Among the 19 notified Scheduled Tribes in Tripura, Tripuris (aka Tipra and Tiprasas) are the largest.
According to the 2011 census, there are at least 5.92 lakh Tripuris in the state, followed by Bru or Reang (1.88 lakh) and Jamatias (83,000).
-They are demanding a separate state not only for the indigenous people but also for all communities who live in the Tripura Tribal Areas Autonomous District Council (TTAADC) area.
-->Historical Background:
Tripura was a kingdom ruled by the Manikya dynasty from the late 13th century until the signing of the Instrument of Accession with the Indian government in 1949.
The demand stems from the anxiety of the indigenous communities in connection with the change in the demographics of the state, which has reduced them to a minority.
It happened due to the displacement of Bengalis from the erstwhile East Pakistan between 1947 and 1971.
Parliament derives powers to create a new state from Article 2 and Article 3 of the Constitution of India.
-Article 2: Parliament may by law admit into the Union, or establish, new States on such terms and conditions as it thinks fit.
States like Sikkim (previously not within India) became a part of the country under Article 2.
-Article 3: It empowered the Parliament to make law relating to the formation of new states and alteration of existing states.