Agartala: Aug 17: TIPRA Motha founder and Royal Scion Bubagra Pradyot Bikram Kishore Manikya Debbarma strongly condemned the Agartala Municipal Corporation (AMC) for its recent eviction drives targeting poor street vendors.
Following a meeting with AMC, and later visiting the Nandanagar Don Bosco School area Bubagra Pradyot announced that the Tripura Tribal Areas Autonomous District Council (TTAADC) has provided financial assistance of Rs 10,000 to each affected vendor individually. He also issued an ultimatum to the civic body, offering to build a dedicated market for the displaced vegetable sellers using his personal funds if the municipality fails to provide an alternative space.
Addressing the media, Debbarma accused the AMC of targeting the vulnerable while turning a blind eye to massive illegal encroachments by affluent and influential individuals. He highlighted the disparity in the civic body’s actions, noting that displaced vendors primarily travel from rural villages just to sell vegetables to survive.
“You only target the poor, you only target the weak,” Debbarma stated. He drew a sharp contrast with the ongoing illegal occupation of historical royal properties, claiming that nearly 60% of the Maharaja’s land in Agartala remains illegally occupied today. He directly challenged the AMC’s willingness to act against these occupants, stating, “You cannot remove them because they are your friends.”
Demanding permanent solution Debbarma stressed the immediate need for a proper marketplace rather than forced removals. “People need a place to have a market, so build and provide a market for them,” he demanded, adding that he is willing to invest his own money to solve the infrastructure issue if the government steps back.
When questioned about the specific outcomes of his meeting inside the AMC, Debbarma kept his remarks brief but resolute. He maintained that his stance had been made entirely clear to the officials. “Whatever I had to say, I have said it. I am with the people, and I am only with the people,” he affirmed, issuing a stern warning that the continued targeting of poor citizens will not be tolerated as long as he remains active.
