Agartala: Agartala is set to witness another round of demonstrations as the Twipra Students Federation (TSF) has declared its intent to continue its protest on Monday, March 24th.
This announcement comes following a state-wide strike on March 21st, where the TSF, alongside the Tipra Indigenous Students Federation (TISF) and other associated groups, obstructed national highways to press their demand for the implementation of the Roman script for the Kokborok language.
The core of the issue revolves around the ongoing debate regarding the script to be used for Kokborok, the indigenous language of Tripura. TSF Vice President John Debbarma, speaking on March 22nd, reiterated the organization’s stance, stating, “We called for a strike to demand the use of the Roman script for printing textbooks as well as question papers.” He acknowledged Chief Minister Manik Saha’s expressed willingness to find a resolution, emphasizing that the TSF is also open to dialogue. “We also believe that a solution can be achieved through dialogue. That’s why we are ready for discussions. Our movement in Agartala will continue on Monday, and it will be a peaceful protest. If the chief minister is genuinely looking for a solution, we are also prepared for dialogue. However, we cannot compromise on our demands,” Debbarma asserted.
Debbarma further justified the demand by highlighting its importance to the indigenous community. “We must achieve what we need. We urge the government to consider our demand, as it is essential for our community. We are not against any script, but we are solely demanding the implementation of the Roman script. This is a genuine demand. Several committees were formed in the past, and they recommended that the government adopt the Roman script. The majority of these committees suggested this change. The government must recognise the legitimacy of our demand and work toward a solution,” he explained.
Addressing concerns regarding the disruption of emergency services during the previous protests, Debbarma clarified, “We did not stop any ambulances. We allowed ambulances and all emergency vehicles to pass. We did not create any havoc.” He also called upon prominent indigenous leaders, including BJP Minister Bikas Debbarma and Leader of the Opposition Jitendra Chaudhury, to publicly declare their positions on the Roman script issue, particularly in light of Tipra Motha’s involvement in the ongoing discourse.
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