Agartala, February 16: The Indigenous People’s Front of Tripura (IPFT), a junior ally of the BJP in Tripura, on Monday criticised Chief Minister Manik Saha over his recent remarks on the Kokborok script issue, urging him to refrain from offering “unsolicited advice” on the mother tongue of indigenous communities.
IPFT general secretary Swapan Debbarma said that any decision regarding the script of Kokborok should be made by the language’s speakers themselves. “The Chief Minister’s mother tongue is Bengali. He should refrain from making unnecessary statements on the issue. Which script is better for Kokborok must be decided by those who use the language in their daily lives. Opinions from those not well-versed in the language amount to unnecessary interference,” Debbarma stated.
The reaction comes amid growing differences within the ruling alliance, particularly between the BJP and TIPRA Motha, over the long-standing demand for adoption of the Roman script for Kokborok. In recent speeches, the Chief Minister opposed the use of the Roman script, advocating instead for an Indian-origin script. He also suggested that Kokborok speakers could consider developing a new script rather than adopting what he termed a foreign one.
Debbarma reminded the BJP of the political consequences faced by the Left in the state’s tribal belt. “The Left lost its support in the hills after opposing the Roman script without valid justification. The ruling party should remember that political power is never permanent,” he said.
He further claimed that the Chief Minister’s remarks appear to reflect a personal opinion, as neither the BJP nor the state government has issued any formal policy decision on the script issue. Debbarma noted that students appearing in upcoming board examinations remain free to write answers in either Roman or Bengali scripts.
