Agartala, December 21:
Expressing grave concern over the safety and rights of Hindus and other minorities in neighbouring Bangladesh, TIPRA Motha founder and Tripura’s royal scion Pradyot Kishore Debbarma on Sunday urged the Government of India to adopt a strong and uncompromising stance, including stopping the entry of Bangladeshi nationals into India and cancelling visa services.
Addressing a press conference here, Debbarma alleged that Hindu Bengalis and other minorities in Bangladesh were being systematically targeted. He claimed temples and churches were being demolished and set ablaze, while tribal and Bengali Hindu communities were being forcefully converted.
“Prominent leaders in Bangladesh are openly calling for shutting down the Indian embassy and even talking about breaking the Northeast. Shockingly, some are demanding that Sheikh Hasina be handed over. Those who shout the loudest about patriotism are silent today, while we, who are labelled a ‘goonda party’, are raising our voice against atrocities on Hindus,” he said.
Terming the current situation in Bangladesh as “more dangerous than Pakistan,” Debbarma described the country as having turned into a “mini Pakistan,” alleging that its leaders were openly supporting anti-India forces and attempts to destabilise the country which even Pakistan did secretly.
He cautioned that Bangladesh was trying to exploit frustrated youths in the Northeast against India and called upon the Centre and state government to urgently address regional issues, including language and identity.
Debbarma also questioned what he termed as a “double standard” in India’s approach towards Bangladesh. “It is strange that our sportspersons do not get opportunities in the IPL, while Bangladeshi players do. Bangladeshi leaders and Jamaite Islami openly threaten India, yet we continue to give them respect. This will not continue,” he said.
Reiterating his demand, Debbarma said India must immediately stop issuing visas to Bangladeshi citizens. “They come here for treatment, education and facilities, but what do we get in return? Abuse and threats. If TIPRA Motha is given an opportunity, we can send the Bangladeshi Assistant High Commissioner back to Dhaka within 20 minutes,” he remarked.
On the political front, the TIPRA Motha supremo hinted at a possible break with alliance partner BJP ahead of the upcoming Tripura Tribal Areas Autonomous District Council (TTAADC) elections.
He said if the Tiprasa Accord was not implemented, there was no purpose in continuing in the ruling coalition.
“The alliance was formed on the basis of assurances that the Tiprasa Accord would be implemented. If nothing happens, then bluffing the people serves no purpose. Nothing is permanent in politics,” he said, alleging that while the Centre and many BJP leaders supported the accord, a section of state BJP leaders opposed it fearing tribal development.
Debbarma pointed out that Chief Minister Dr Manik Saha had already declared that the BJP would win all 28 seats in the TTAADC elections, which he said clearly indicated that no seats would be allotted to TIPRA Motha.
“Left with no option, we will contest alone. Let the people decide whether the BJP wins 28 seats or just two. I have full confidence in the Tiprasa people,” he asserted.
Responding to recent political tensions, Debbarma said he was completely opposed to violence and clarified that no senior TIPRA Motha leader had made derogatory remarks against any party.
“Violence diverts attention from real issues like land rights, language rights and identity,” he added.
Reaffirming his party’s firm stand on Kokborok, Debbarma said there would be no compromise on the Roman script.
“Kokborok must be written in Roman script. We do not want to write Bengali in examinations. The Centre and the state must respect the sentiments of our people,” he said.
He accused the BJP-led government in Tripura of adopting a discriminatory approach, alleging that around 125 Bengali-medium schools were being converted into English-medium institutions, while English education in Kokborok-speaking areas was being opposed. “If English is so bad, then a notification should be issued that children of Ministers and MLAs should also not study English,” he remarked.
Debbarma announced that for the next academic year, Kokborok textbooks in Roman script would be published and circulated in primary schools run by the TTAADC.
He asserted that neither the state nor the Centre had the right to impose any script on Kokborok-speaking people, calling it an internal matter.
Calling for a long-term and clear policy for the Northeast, Debbarma concluded by saying, “We are demanding our rights and respect. We are not against the Bengali language or any community. What we oppose is the forceful imposition of anything on our people.”
