Agartala: Nov 22. “When there is violence only the common people suffer and I have not seen a rich or powerful person who suffers.” this remark was made by TIPRA Motha founder Bubagra Pradyot Bikram Manikya Debbarma today at MBB Airport, where he addressed reporters about the various ongoing political developments.
“If Chief Minister thinks there can be a larger dialogue between TIPRA Motha, BJP and the police officials he will be there,” he added.
Speaking of the recent violence, Pradyot alleged that Motha has been directly targeted. “Our party offices are burned, we wouldn’t have done this to ourselves, our workers are beaten up, we wouldn’t have done this to ourselves,” he said, adding that those responsible must be detained as miscreants are clearly at play.
He stressed that violent actors shift between political parties and should not be protected by anyone. “There are miscreants on both sides of the political spectrum. Someday they were in CPI-M, now in Motha and BJP, tomorrow they will be under Congress’s flags. The problem is there are goons, the bad elements who should face action, they should not get protection. Goons don’t have political affiliation, they will change as power shifts.” Pradyot said.
On Minister Animesh Debbarma’s demand for the Home Ministry, Pradyot defended it as a democratic right. “It is not illegal to demand a Ministry calling it as democratic rights,” he said, adding he will speak to Animesh since he himself visited the violence-affected areas.
Moving beyond state politics, Bubagra Pradyot spoke about the growing ‘One Northeast’ platform, describing it as an significant development. “The development is very good,” he said, noting meetings with leaders from Arunachal, Karbi Anglong, Dima Hasao, Meghalaya, Manipur and Nagaland.
“We are on track to create new ideas, which would be taking a larger perspective of speaking out from the entire region from a single point of view.”
Touching the future of the TMP, he indicated that a restructured identity may emerge through the amalgamation of various organisations.
“There would be a new identity created, this will take place when different organisations amalgate and come out with a new one,” he said, while clarifying, “We are not merging into one party and losing our identity, but we are coming with concrete steps and plans on how we can come together and speak as one voice.”
Pradyot stressed the need for unity without erasing cultural identities. “We are all trying to come together, not to finish each other’s identity,” he said.
About losing TIPRA Motha’s identity, he said, “The people’s problems are more important then having a sign board and their are various ideas are coming up, name are being thought off, what will be the ideology and policy that are more important than leaders like him, Conrad, Mmhonlumo Kikon or Daniel Langthasa.”
He concluded by saying Delhi prefers hearing a unified voice from the Northeast.
“Delhi doesn’t have time to hear 10 people speaking the same from different states, if they meet us and speak then all will be resolved.”
