Agartala, July 11: Dissident NLFT commander Nayanbasi Jamatya has demanded the upgradation of the Autonomous District Council (ADC) for tribals of the state to the status of Bodoland Territorial Council in Assam and deportation of "foreign nationals" within this year. Jamatya recently held extensive discussions with his ?cadre? on the charter of demands that he would negotiate with the Union home ministry. He said he has already informed Delhi of his demands on the upgradation of the ADC through an amendment of the Constitution and the deportation of ?foreign nationals?.
Jamatya said the ADC had failed to fulfil the aspirations of the tribal people in Tripura and protect their identity, culture and tradition and thus a ?different instrument? is required. ?No state government has allowed the ADC to have complete power or function properly in the interest of the tribal people and that is why powers conferred on the BTC should be extended to Tripura also,? he said.
Jamatya wants the council to be renamed ?Borok Territorial Council?, which should receive funds directly from the Centre.
Asked if he was strengthening the Indigenous Nationalist Party of Tripura?s case by supporting a similar demand made by the party, Jamatya said he was not aware of the INPT?s demand.
On the question of deportation of ?foreign nationals?, Jamatya said according to the bilateral agreement between India and Bangladesh, 1971 was the ?ideal cut-off date? for identifying and deporting foreign nationals but it also had problems. ?During the past five decades many people have come and settled in Tripura. The tribals have benefited from their association with Bengalis and the non-tribal Bengalis have also benefited in certain ways through their interaction with the tribals,? he added.
Jamatya called for ?peaceful co-existence of people belonging to all sections? for a peaceful and prosperous Tripura.
He said the peace negotiations of the banned All Tripura Tiger Force militants, led by Ranjit Debbarma and another group of the NLFT headed by Biswamohan Debbarma depended on the outcome of the ceasefire between him and the Centre. He would soon meet Ulfa chief Paresh Barua to discuss certain ?important issues? but refused to elaborate, he added.
Jamatya said rehabilitation benefits for all the surrendered militants and permission for them to move with arms and ammunition during the peace talks would be his other major demand.