Tripura BJP MP Kriti Devi Debbarman on Monday has urged Amit Shah for the “timely passage” of the Constitution (125th Amendment) Bill, 2019, to address the “immediate concerns” of the Sixth Schedule areas in the Northeast.

The BJP MP from Tripura East also stressed on the need to “reinforce the commitment” of the Central government towards inclusive and balanced development” of the Northeast.

There are 10 autonomous district councils in the region for the administration of tribal areas in Assam, Meghalaya, Mizoram and Tripura.

The chiefs of the ten councils had met Shah in Delhi in July and had also submitted a joint memorandum to him requesting the early passage of the 125th amendment bill, which was flagged in Kriti’s letter to Shah.

Pradyot Kishore Manikya Debbarma, the chief of TIPRA Motha, a constituent of the BJP-led Tripura government, posted about the meeting between her sister Kriti and Shah on X.

“Today my sister handed over the letter to Hon HM Shri @AmitShah for the implementation of the 125th amendment. All of us who are from the NE council areas would like this at the earliest to safeguard our interest of the people,” Pradyot posted along with a copy of the letter.

The Constitution (125th Amendment) Bill, introduced in the Rajya Sabha in 2019, envisages more administrative, financial, executive powers to the 10 tribal autonomous councils in the Northeast under the Sixth Schedule of the Constitution.

There is one such council in Tripura formed in 1982 — the Tripura Tribal Areas Autonomous District Council (TTAADC).

Kriti’s letter stated, “It is heartening to learn that a three-member committee, led by Sri. Nityanand Rai Ji, Hon’ble Minister of State for Home Affairs, will be formed to address the demands and concerns of the Sixth Schedule district and territorial councils,”

Kriti said she too sensed a “pressing need and support the demand for giving more legislative and financial autonomy” to the TTAADC which form a major part of her constituency while urging Shah to “expedite the process and bring the 125th Arnendment before Parliament at the earliest opportunity”.