Agartala: The Indigenous People’s Front of Tripura (IPFT), a key ally in the BJP-led coalition government, on Monday asked Chief Minister Manik Saha to refrain from interfering in the ongoing debate over the script of the Kokborok language, asserting that the decision must rest solely with the community that speaks the language.
The statement, made by IPFT general secretary Swapan Debbarma, comes amid growing political tensions within the ruling alliance, particularly between the Tipra Motha Party and the BJP, over the proposal to adopt the Roman script for Kokborok.
Addressing reporters, Debbarma said the chief minister, whose mother tongue is Bengali, should avoid making “unnecessary” comments on the issue.
He stressed that the choice of script is a cultural and linguistic matter that should be determined by native Kokborok speakers themselves.
“The question of which script is most suitable for Kokborok must be settled by those who use the language in their daily lives. Opinions from people who are not closely connected with the language amount to avoidable interference,” he said, adding that it was not necessary for the chief minister to comment on every sensitive issue.
In recent political speeches, Saha has publicly opposed the use of the Roman script and argued in favour of developing an indigenous script for Kokborok.
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Debbarma also drew a parallel with the political decline of the Left Front in tribal-dominated areas of Tripura, linking it to the party’s resistance to the Roman script in the past.
“The Left lost its influence in the hills because it opposed the Roman script without valid reasons. The ruling party should remember that political power is not permanent,” he said.
He further clarified that the chief minister’s remarks should not be treated as official government policy, pointing out that neither the BJP nor the state government has issued any formal decision on the matter so far.
“It appears to be the chief minister’s personal view. While he is entitled to his opinion, there is no official policy decision yet. For the upcoming board examinations, students are still free to write Kokborok answers in either Roman or Bengali script,” Debbarma added.
