Tripura MLA threatens to quit, demands ration restoration to Brus

Agartala: Demanding immediate restoration of supply of ration along with other materials and cash role to Bru tribals staying in seven relief camps in Tripura, Prem Kumar Reang, legislator of Indigenous People’s Front of Tripura (IPFT) from Kanchanpur constituency, has threatened to resign if the state government fails to fulfill the demands with immediate effect.

Speaking with EastMojo, Reang said, “I have met with Brus in camps who have not got ration and other essential commodities in last couple of days. To press for their demands, including immediate supply of ration to them, the Brus have been staging a road blockade at Laxmipur village.”

“The Brus are ready to be repatriated to Mizoram and the process is underway. But their ration and cash dole supply have been stopped since October 1. How can they repatriate with an empty stomach? The government is violating human rights by stopping their relief materials, this is unconstitutional and it should not be done. If the government doesn’t resume rations and relief for them, I will resign from my post,” he threatened.

It is very shameful for me, being a local MLA of Kanchanpur constituency, I cannot do anything for people of my Bru community who are starving without food here in relief camps, Reang regretted.

“My community people are dying of starvation. But being a local MLA I don’t have enough scope to do in this matter. So, it is better to leave the MLA post. They will return to Mizoram but the government should mitigate their demands and the rations immediately,” Reang said.

Meanwhile, the Bru inmates continued with their indefinite road blockade for the fourth day on Sunday protesting against the suspension of essential supplies by the government.

Also Read: Tripura: Brus’ road blockade over ration supply enters 2nd day

Mizoram Bru Displaced People’s Forum (MBDPF) general secretary, Bruno Msha said that they have continued the indefinite road blockade demanding the rations and relief items that were stopped on September 30 last in the midst of ninth phase repatriation.

“The Centre has stopped relief materials for us. The repatriation is going on. It is not possible to repatriate to Mizoram empty stomach. We are human not a machine. Four days since our road blockade has begun but nobody from the administration had approached us with any positive response. We want immediate resumption of rations,” he said.

Kanchanpur sub-divisional magistrate (SDM) Abhedananda Baidya said that he visited the affected areas twice and claimed that the decision of resuming the rations is not in his hand.

“We have arranged an ambulance for them in case of any emergency during their road blockade. We have also deployed police force to maintain the law-and-order situation and Section 144 of CrPC imposed surroundings the food go-own, which is 4 km from Laxmipur village where they have staged the road blockade,” he said.