Tribals in Tripura are backward since Communists ruled Tripura for 35 years: Pradyot Debbarma

Debbarma launched an attack on the BJP and said that some BJP tribal leaders are trying to break off the Motha support base

Tipra Motha Chief Pradyot Debbarma in a strong reply to the opposition CPIM and other political parties said on Wednesday that tribals in Tripura are backward since Communists ruled Tripura for 35 years in two phases.

The reply comes amid strong criticism from CPIM and other political parties over the delay in the visit of an interlocutor appointed by New Delhi to start talks on constitutional solution for tribals in Tripura.
Debbarma also launched an attack on the BJP and said that some BJP tribal leaders are trying to break off the Motha support base.

In an audio message on social media, Pradyot Kishore Debbarma said that he had been silent for several days on these issues, but now he has chosen to speak up.

“I have seen in the last few days that a few people who became MLAs because I didn’t field a candidate, like Jitendra Chaudhury from Sabroom, are calling me a fraud. If I had chosen a candidate from Sabroom, he wouldn’t be sitting in the assembly. He is calling TIPRA Motha’s leaders fraud. CPIM leaders ruled us for 35 years. They came to power with tribal votes. They didn’t give us food, a roof over our heads, or education for our children. The tribals are backward since CPIM ruled us for 35 years. What did we get? Our community? Ideology?” Pradyot said in his audio message.

Replying to BJP leaders saying TIPRA Motha has been finished, and Pradyot wouldn’t call for Greater Tipraland anymore, Debbarma said, “I have asked for constitutional solution and greater Tipraland is included.”

“Few BJP Janajati leaders are breaking away from a hundred or a few of our supporters. These people have a shortage of money, so they are going for convenience. We have no objection. If they want to break TIPRA Motha, they may try. TIPRA Motha may break, but demand for Greater Tipraland will not break, and the demand for a constitutional solution will not end. They should be ashamed that, being tribals, they aren’t giving anything to tribals”, he shot at the said BJP leaders without naming anyone in particular.

He also said the BJP assured maximum autonomy before the assembly elections but is silent on the issue now.

“The BJP controls both the federal and state governments. They may demand it, but it wouldn’t work”, he said, adding that the BJP, Congress, and CPIM are all different in their approach and politics in Delhi and Tripura.

Citing his philanthropic works, including bringing students of Tripura stranded in Manipur back home amidst violence in the state or helping people during the COVID pandemic out of his own pockets, Debbarma said it’s easy to make press conferences, but it’s hard to help one’s own community with money from one’s own pockets.

“I’m not a politician. I’m here to help my community. Whoever wants to do Netagiri can do so. I will do my work. And those who live in glass houses shouldn’t pelt stones at others. They will become naked. See, what I do is for my people, my community, and the next generation”, he said in a terse warning about his next course of action.

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