Tripura royal scion and Tipra Motha Party founder Pradyot Kishore Manikya Debbarma on January 29 urged people to rise above political divisions in the interest of national security, stressing that India must remain united to respond firmly to developments in neighbouring Bangladesh.
Speaking at Swami Vivekananda Maidan in Agartala during an event where e-autos were distributed, Pradyot said internal political fights only weaken the country and send the wrong message to neighbouring nations. He alleged that minorities in Bangladesh, including Hindus, Buddhists and Christians, are facing attacks, arson and land encroachment.
“We are busy fighting among ourselves in Tripura and showing Bangladesh that we are divided. They will take advantage of this situation. This is not the time for party politics, this is the time to think about national security,” he said.
Drawing a parallel with history, Pradyot referred to the 1946 Noakhali riots, during which many Hindu Bengalis were killed. He recalled that Mahatma Gandhi had written to his grandfather at the time, after which refugees were given shelter in Tripura on humanitarian grounds. “If such a situation arises again, what will we do? We need to stay united so that we can give a befitting reply,” he said.
Earlier, while addressing the e-auto distribution programme, Pradyot said the Tipra-HAM scheme was introduced by the Tripura Tribal Areas Autonomous District Council (TTAADC) in 2025 to create livelihood opportunities. He said around 1,600 e-autos are being distributed this year with subsidies, with financial support from Bajaj Finance.
The scheme, he said, is primarily aimed at unemployed youth and small farmers. Charging units have also been installed at the homes of beneficiaries. Speaking about farmers’ issues, Pradyot pointed out that many suffer losses when they fail to sell vegetables on time. To address this, he said he has proposed setting up cold storage facilities so farmers can store unsold produce.
Emphasising economic growth, Pradyot said Tripura’s future depends on strengthening its economy. “Politics alone cannot secure our future. Only economic development will ensure better days for our youth,” he added.