BJP woos Tribals: CPI-M

New Delhi, Oct 27: In order to garner political benefits, the BJP has changed its political strategy in Tripura by replacing "communal approach" with tactics trying to woo the 31 per cent tribals and even "resurrected extremist tribal groups", CPI-M has alleged. "In Tripura with a small minority population, they believe that communal hate politics may not be that effective. But, 31 per cent population of Tripura is tribal communities. So the BJP-RSS has resurrected extremist tribal groups," senior CPI-M leader Brinda Karat wrote in an introduction to a booklet published by the party titled 'Tripura-A People's First Model'. Ms Karat, a key polit bureau member of the Marxists' outfit said, - it is not merely the future of Left parties that will be at stake in elections in northeastern state of Tripura, but it will be rather the "unity" of the people in a sensitive border state. "What is at stake here is not the Left Front government or the base of a political party - what is at stake is the unity of the people in a sensitive border state in a region where ethnic discord is the biggest hindrance to development," Ms Karat wrote. She alleged that having realised that "tested method" of the BJP-RSS to divide the people on the basis of religion will not succeed; the saffron party has been "supporting and patronizing separatist outfits like the Indigenous People's Front of Tripura (NC faction)". In this context, the booklet points out that during last one year, the IPFT has been raising the demand for a separate state "Twipraland" made out of the Autonomous District Council area. "This faction headed by N C Debbarma is the main instrument for BJP. They are trying to woo other small tribal based parties also," the booklet says. It further alleges: such a political methodology adopted by BJP in the northeastern state is not mere 'political opportunism'. "It is an anti-national conspiracy that will unleash a violent threat to the unity of India's people". Ms Karat in her introductory note also alleged that : "Unprecedented amount of money is being used by the BJP-RSS in Tripura to create disturbances and to fund violent activities". UNI