Overview
- Thousands of Kokborok-speaking students formed human chains at 11 locations across Tripura under the UMCRC banner to press for Roman script adoption.
- Chief Minister Manik Saha ruled out Roman script for Kokborok, calling it a foreign script and pointing to provisions under the Constitution’s Eighth Schedule.
- Saha urged consideration of Devanagari or development of a new indigenous script and alleged vested interests were instigating students.
- Student groups, including TSF and TISF, argue that board exams use Bengali script for Kokborok, which disadvantages many indigenous students, and they warn of continued protests.
- The push for Roman script is backed by Tipra Motha and allied student bodies, highlighting strains with the ruling BJP alliance ahead of TTAADC elections.