Tripura Minister and senior Tipra Motha leader Animesh Debbarma calls for urgent action to identify and deport illegal Bangladeshi immigrants in Tripura, citing an existential threat to locals. Speaking at a Sabroom rally, he connects the influx to rising land costs and economic strain, demanding strict measures.
Sabroom (Tripura), June 19: Tipra Motha leader and Minister Animesh Debbarma on Thursday issued a strong call for the identification and immediate deportation of illegal Bangladeshi immigrants from Tripura, warning of serious existential crisis for the people living in the State if the issue continues to be ignored.
Notably, Tipra Motha Party (TMP) led by royal scion Pradyot Kishore Debbarman is an ally of ruling BJP in Tripura. The party has 14 MLAs in 60-seat State Assembly. As the intrusion from Bangladesh remains unabated in Tripura, TMP has raised the issue urging the administration to launch an identification and deportation drive to free the State from burden of the illegally intruded people. As part of the ongoing programme, Animesh Debbarma went to Sabroom to submit a deputation to this end on Thursday.
The deputation primarily focused on the demand for the identification and deportation of illegal Bangladeshi and Rohingya immigrants, along with several other significant demands. The representatives stated that the Central Government has already issued a directive to identify and deport all illegal infiltrators within 30 days, and a government circular has also been released in this regard. The deputation was submitted to press for the swift implementation of this directive.
Their key demands include:
Identification and deportation of illegal Bangladeshi and Rohingya immigrants across the state within 30 days
Formation of special task forces in every district
Immediate construction and operationalization of detention centers
Strict punitive action against brokers and corrupt officials
Detection and cancellation of fraudulent Aadhaar cards, voter ID cards, and ration cards
Addressing a public meeting organized by his party in Sabroom, the Minister urged Bengalis in the state not to forget the painful history of their migration from Bangladesh, which was marked by persecution and violence. “No one abandons their country without reason. The waves of migration were caused by targeted torture. Let us not forget that,” he said.
He cautioned that the state is on the brink of an existential crisis due to the unchecked influx of illegal immigrants. “If we keep allowing them to enter without resistance, soon the original and law-abiding citizens of Tripura will be strangers in their own land,” he warned.
To intensify the demand, Tipra Motha also organized a mass deputation, pressing the administration to take urgent action to detect and deport illegal Bangladeshi nationals living across the state.
Taking a swipe at CPIM leader and former MLA Prabhat Chaudhury, who had accused the ruling coalition and Tipra Motha of ignoring people’s problems and engaging in corruption, Debbarma said, “The former MLA seems to be suffering from myopia — he needs to visit a good eye specialist.”
Debbarma emphasized that Tipra Motha is the only political party in Tripura consistently speaking up on pressing issues, especially on illegal immigration, and vowed to continue the fight even without holding power.
“Today, even as a Minister, I have joined this protest. I may not remain a minister forever, but I will live in Tripura all my life. To protect our future, we must act now to identify and remove those who have entered illegally. If we don’t act, we will soon have no control over our own state,” he asserted.
The Minister strongly urged the public and authorities not to show leniency. “These illegal immigrants don’t deserve our sympathy. Once caught, they must be dealt with in a way that discourages future infiltration. Their experience must serve as a deterrent — something they’ll remember for life,” he said.
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He blamed illegal immigration for soaring land prices, rising inflation, and increasing rural distress. “All these issues are deeply connected to the burden imposed by unauthorized settlers on our state’s limited resources,” Debbarma added.
