"Fight of tribals was never against country but for rights": TIPRA Motha party leader after Centre signs peace pacts

New Delhi [India], September 4 (ANI): After meeting Union Home Minister Amit Shah and signing the Memorandum of Settlement, TIPRA Motha party leader Pradyot Bikram Manikya Deb Barma on Wednesday thanked the government for understanding the tribal problems of Tripura.
He also mentioned that 328 people signed the peace agreement on Wednesday.
"Today, there had been peace talks and peace agreements with the insurgent groups in Tripura. I am thankful to the Home Ministry that they understood the tribal problems of Tripura. 328 people signed the peace agreement and came into the mainstream. Another 170 people may also come in the coming few days," he said.
He further asserted that the indigenous people of Tripura feel pain that even after 75 years of independence, they have to fight for their land, language and culture.
"The Home Minister has accepted this and said that we have to move forward with our tribals. Both NLFT and ATTF have accepted that they will leave the path of weapons and come into the mainstream. The fight of us tribals was never against the country. It was a fight for our rights. There was a time when we were in majority but today we have become minority in our own state," Barma added.
The Central government and State government of Tripura on Wednesday signed a Memorandum of Settlement with the National Liberation Front of Tripura (NLFT) and All Tripura Tiger Force (ATTF) in the national capital.
The memorandum of settlement was signed in presence of Union Home Minister Amit Shah, Tripura Chief Minister Manik Saha among others.
After signing the Memorandum of Settlement, Amit Shah said that ever since Prime Minister, Narendra Modi assumed power of office he had through peace and dialogue, developed the northeast region.
"...This is a matter of joy for all of us that after the struggle that was ongoing for 35 years, you (armed groups) have given up weapons and joined the mainstream and expressed your commitment towards the development of entire Tripura. Ever since Narendra Modi became the Prime Minister of the country, through peace and dialogue, he developed the Northeast," the Home Minister said.
Chief Minister Manik Saha lauded Amit Shah for creating an atmosphere of peace and prosperity in the entire northeast region and spoke about the peace agreements signed in the last ten years under the leadership of PM Modi. (ANI)