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Indian Express
3 days ago
- Politics
- Indian Express
Town Hall renaming bid sparks controversy; ally Tipra Motha MLA, CPI(M), Cong oppose move, Tripura govt defends decision
The Tripura government's bid to rename the Town Hall in Agartala after Hindutva ideologue Dr Syamaprasad Mookerjee has sparked a controversy in the northeastern state. The Town Hall was built in 1985 by the former Left Front government after demolishing the Lal Mahal, which was a part of the erstwhile royal palace compound housing the Ujjayanta Palace and the Laxmi Narayan Bari Temple. 'Apolitical' stand of Tipra Motha legislator A day after Tripura Chief Minister Manik Saha announced the decision to rechristen the Town Hall after the founder of the Bharatiya Jana Sangh, Tipra Motha MLA Ranjit Debbarma Monday opposed the decision and urged the CM to set up a separate building and dedicate it in the memory of Mookerjee. Speaking at an 'apolitical' event congratulating Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Home Minister Amit Shah for passing directives to identify and deport illegal immigrants from Bangladesh and Myanmar, Ranjit Debbarma, whose party is a constituent of the BJP-led ruling coalition in the state, said, 'Please don't create a controversy by renaming the town hall after Dr Mookerjee.' Citing the earlier renaming of the Victoria Memorial Hospital, the Durbar Hall and the Astabal Ground in Agartala, the Tipra Motha MLA said political regimes over the decades have turned renaming into a competition in Tripura. 'We shall not accept these. That's why we want to request the CM to withdraw the announcement to rename Agartala Town Hall after Dr Mookerjee,' Ranjit Debbarma said. Praise for former CM Biplab Deb Although MLA Ranjit Debbarma criticised incumbent Chief Minister Dr Manik Saha's move to rename the Town Hall, he expressed gratitude to former chief minister Biplab Kumar Deb for renaming the Agartala Airport after Maharaja Bir Bikram Kishore Manikya Debbarma, a ruler of the Manikya dynasty, and places like Baramura Hills and Gandacherra to Hatai Kotor and Ganda Twisa, respectively, during his regime. Ranjit Debbarma said Biplab Kumar Deb honoured the tribal history of the state through the renaming. Ranjit Debbarma, who used to be the supremo of the now-disbanded All Tripura Tiger Force (ATTF), was arrested in Bangladesh and later joined mainstream politics, contesting and winning the 2023 assembly elections on a Tipra Motha ticket. He recently sparked a major controversy, stating that his party would withdraw support from the BJP-led alliance government due to the 'non-fulfilment' of the tripartite Tiprasa Accord. Motha founder Pradyot Kishore Manikya Debbarma later clarified that Ranjit Debbarma's comments were 'made out of frustration' and the tribal party would not withdraw support from the state government. Opposition voices Opposition leader and CPI(M) politburo member Jitendra Chaudhury said the bid to rename the Town Hall instead of building a new structure was tantamount to disrespecting the legacy of the city as well as that of Mookerjee. 'I am sure the people of this city would not accept it. I urge the government to reconsider this decision… I am not against dedicating a building, hospital, or school after Dr Mookerjee. You (the BJP) are in power. The central government has funds, even if the state does not. More infrastructure is needed to accommodate events, political conferences, etc,' Jitendra Chaudhury added. Tripura Congress president Ashish Kumar Saha also said that the government could have built a new building and named it after Mookerjee, rather than renaming the Town Hall after him. Govt defends renaming move Meanwhile, Tripura Tourism Minister Sushanta Chowdhury said the decision to rename the Town Hall was taken after taking all stakeholders into confidence. Speaking to reporters at the BJP state headquarters in Agartala on Monday, the minister claimed there was no difference in opinion among the ruling allies about the renaming move, and added that MLA Ranjit Debbarma could have got confused 'owing to rumours'. 'There is a rumour that the name Town Hall would be changed. As per the gazette notification and official records, the building is named Town Hall, not Agartala Town Hall. We shall only add Dr Syamaprasad Mookerjee's name before it and rename it as Dr Syamaprasad Mookerjee Town Hall,' Sushanta Chowdhury said. Asked about MLA Ranjit Debbarma's remarks, he said, 'Tipra Motha is our alliance partner. After the 2023 elections, they were in the Opposition. Jitendra (Chowdhury) Babu became the Opposition leader after they (Tipra Motha) joined us. They (Tipra Motha) have realised that the central and state governments are moving towards development… They have been working as our strongest partner since their inclusion in the government.' Taking potshots at the Opposition, Sushanta Chowdhury said, 'Jiten Babu (Jitendra Chaudhury) is asking to withdraw the decision. This Town Hall was inaugurated in 1985 by acquiring royal land and demolishing the Lal Mahal. They (Communists) then didn't honour someone from the royal family. He is opposing the current renaming by citing royal sentiments. Tribals remained backward during the Left regime… Now Jiten Babu is trying to rake up tribal sentiments… Tribals have supported the IPFT and the Motha, and both parties are with us now in the state government. They have realised that the BJP alone can do development. So, any effort to confuse the people by playing up sentiments would not work.' Minister Sushanta Chowdhury said the BJP alone has shown respect to tribals and the erstwhile royal family by renaming Agartala Airport as Maharaja Bir Bikram Airport, and announcing a holiday on the last king's birthday, among others. He also said that stakeholders, including cultural activists, artists, litterateurs, and the state-level cultural committee, were consulted before the renaming decision was taken. 'At least, we have not renamed (Town Hall) after Lenin or Stalin or outsiders whom people of the state and the country don't know,' he added. Illegal immigration On Monday, MLA Ranjit Debbarma also said that many states, including Maharashtra, Delhi, Haryana, Tamil Nadu, Assam, and Arunachal Pradesh, have started implementing the directive of the Union Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) to detect and deport illegal immigrants, but the Tripura government has not yet started doing it. 'We want this initiative to be taken in Tripura too, without any delay, or else, we shall do whatever movement is required for the implementation of the notification', he said at an event where he also spoke about the Town Hall renaming bid. Citing Tipra Motha's slogan of 'puila jati, ulo party (community first, party later)', Ranjit Debbarma claimed the anti-illegal immigration movement has support from all sections of society, including Bengalis, tribals, Buddhists, Muslims, Christians and Hindus.
Indian Express
4 days ago
- Politics
- Indian Express
‘Received no communication from Tipra Motha over withdrawal of support': Tripura CM Manik Saha
A day after the Tipra Motha flip-flopped on the issue of withdrawing support from the BJP-led coalition government in Tripura, Chief Minister Manik Saha Sunday said he has not received any communication on the matter from the tribal party. 'What the Tipra Motha MLA (Ranjit Debbarma) said over the tripartite accord… I didn't receive anything in writing from the party,' Saha said in Agartala on the sidelines of a BJP program. Speaking on the tripartite Tiprasa Accord, the chief minister said he was in regular touch with Tipra Motha founder Pradyot Kishore Manikya Debbarma, and the process to implement the Accord was on. Meanwhile, Pradyot Kishore met Governor Indrasena Reddy Nallu at Raj Bhawan on Sunday. After the meeting, the Tipra Motha founder said, 'It's a personal visit to the Governor. We also met yesterday (Saturday) at a program. He told me to meet him and, accordingly, I visited him and talked about various subjects. Whatever discussion happened between me and the Governor will remain between us. I don't want to comment on this before the media. The only thing I can say is that the Governor has heard my views, and I have heard his advice patiently. Let's see how things turn out.' When asked about the recent visit of a Tipra Motha delegation to the Governor over the infiltration issue, Pradyot Kishore said, 'If we cannot unite to stop illegal infiltration, then it will be a huge injustice to our next generation, who will be deprived of a better tomorrow. Political parties should come together and stop illegal infiltration that is happening in Tripura, because it is going to affect Tripura, it is going to affect the Northeast, and it is going to affect India as well.' Asked about his recent interactions with the chief minister, Pradyot Kishore said, 'Whatever is discussed between me and him is for the betterment of Tripura and not for anything else. I spoke to him yesterday, and if required, I shall speak to him today also.' On Saturday, Tipra Motha MLA and rebel-turned-politician Ranjit Debbarma first said at a press conference that they were ready to withdraw support from the Manik Saha-led government over the 'non-implementation' of the Tiprasa Accord and the 'failure' to rein in illegal infiltration from Bangladesh. But within hours of that announcement, Pradyot Kishore clarified that Tipra Motha was not leaving the ruling coalition. Replying to questions from media persons, he had said, 'I didn't know what was said in the press conference. I shall talk to Ranjit Debbarma and ask what statement was given.'
Indian Express
5 days ago
- Politics
- Indian Express
Tipra Motha ‘flip flop' over leaving BJP-led coalition, founder Pradyot Kishore contradicts senior party MLA
The Tipra Motha Saturday threatened to withdraw its support from the BJP-led ruling coalition, citing the Tripura government's alleged failure to implement the tripartite Tiprasa Accord and rein in illegal immigration from neighbouring Bangladesh. In a press briefing, Tipra Motha MLA and rebel-turned-politician Ranjit Debbarma said the tribal party had waited for 'over a year' to see some progress on the Tiprasa Accord. 'What is the point of being a part of the government? We have not left the demand of Greater Tipraland. The 125th Amendment Bill hasn't been passed in Parliament, and by-elections for vacant seats in the ADC (Autonomous District Council) and ADC village committee elections are yet to be held. We are ready to withdraw support and leave the government because nothing has been done about implementing the Accord. We shall discuss with the central government for one last time before deciding,' Ranjit Debbarma further said. The legislator added he had a discussion with Tipra Motha founder Pradyot Kishore Manikya Debbarma regarding the party's political options, and the latter concurred with him. Ranjit Debbarma further claimed that Pradyot Kishore's younger sister and BJP MP Kriti Devi Debbarma had also agreed to resign from Parliament over the non-implementation of the Tiprasa Accord. He, thereafter, announced that a delegation comprising 13 Tipra Motha legislators is scheduled to meet Union Home Minister Amit Shah in New Delhi on July 20. Last year, the Centre, Tripura government, and the Tipra Motha signed a tripartite Tiprasa Accord, agreeing to 'amicably resolve' all issues of the indigenous people of Tripura relating to history, land rights, political rights, economic development, identity, culture, language, etc. MLA Ranjit Debbarma also described 'unchecked illegal immigration' as a 'national threat', and added that the BJP-led government failed to act on combating illegal immigration despite the Tipra Motha dispatching a series of letters on the issue to district magistrates, superintendents of police, and the chief minister. However, just hours after Ranjit Debbarma said it was better to walk away from the ruling coalition instead of betraying the people, Pradyot Kishore said, 'I have spoken to the chief minister (Dr Manik Saha) and told him respectfully that there is genuine frustration amongst the tribals. He has said that at his level, he is doing his best to implement the (Tiprasa) accord. He has also assured to speak with the central government at the right platform to bring about an amicable solution to the accord. We are waiting for 18 months and are hopeful that the promise made by the Government of India will be honoured.' While clarifying that his party would not be leaving the government, Pradyot Kishore said, 'I didn't know what was said in the press conference. I shall talk to Ranjit Debbarma and ask what statement was given.' Pradyot Kishore, however, said that a lot of illegal immigrants from Bangladesh are entering Tripura amid the prevailing situation in the neighbouring country and added that tribals in the villages are 'frustrated' with the situation. Brushing aside MLA Ranjit Debbarma's comments, the Tipra Motha founder said those were 'statements made out of frustration'. While most BJP leaders declined to comment on the controversy, former chief minister and Lok Sabha MP Biplab Kumar Deb, who is known to be close to Pradyot Kishore, said Pradyot Kishore is the head of the Tipra Motha, and not Ranjit Debbarma. 'Ranjit Debbarma is not the supremo of Tipra Motha. No such decision of Tipra Motha has been informed to us. As far as I know, Tipra Motha supports the Union government led by Prime Minister Narendra Modi… Ranjit babu is not the right person… Whatever Pradyot Kishore says is considered the party policy of Tipra Motha,' Deb said. The former chief minister added that decisions on pending demands will be taken as per the 'system'. Reacting to the apparent 'flip flop' of the Tipra Motha on the issue of continuing its alliance with the BJP, Tripura Opposition leader and CPI(M) politburo member Jitendra Chaudhury said, 'Such incidents were bound to happen. The alliance between the BJP and the Tipra Motha was not formed based on proper principles. They agreed on things that they don't principally agree on. So, it's natural that they will have disillusionment. The high hopes created by Motha would also not be fulfilled, and it was bound to happen.' Tripura can have a maximum of 12 cabinet members, but till recently it had only 10 cabinet members. Of these, eight were from the BJP, one from the Indigenous People's Front of Tripura, and one from the Tipra Motha. BJP MLA Kishor Barman took oath as a cabinet minister on Thursday, taking the tally to 11. A section of political experts has, therefore, termed the threat to leave the ruling coalition as a bargaining chip for the Tipra Motha, which has been demanding three full-fledged cabinet berths for quite some time now. Notably, the Tipra Motha has the second-highest number of MLAs in the state after the BJP.
Indian Express
14-06-2025
- Politics
- Indian Express
BJP condemns vandalism at Nobel Laureate Rabindranath Tagore's ancestral home in Bangladesh, holds protest rallies across Tripura
The BJP on Saturday took out protest rallies across Tripura condemning the recent vandalism at Nobel Laureate Rabindranath Tagore's ancestral home in Bangladesh. Apart from the state capital, Agartala, protest rallies were organised at Kailasahar in Unakoti district, Raghna international border area in North Tripura district, Sonamura in Sepahijala district, and Belonia in South Tripura district. Protesters were seen trying to breach barricades at some places; however, there was no report of any kind of clash anywhere. 'We all know that the ancestral residence of Rabindranath Tagore at Sirajganj district in Bangladesh was vandalised on June 11. We strongly protested against it and condemned it… We never say that Rabindranath Tagore was a Hindu poet; he was Biswakabi. We assembled at Raghna to protest against the vandalism,' said Bagbasa BJP MLA Jadab Lal Nath. A senior police officer in Unakoti said adequate security was deployed at the rally in the district to maintain law and order. At the protest rally in Sonamura, former Union Minister Pratima Bhowmik criticised Muhammad Yunus, the head of Bangladesh's interim government. Sports and Youth Affairs Minister Tinku Roy, who joined the protest rally in Belonia, said, 'This kind of incident (vandalism) will not be tolerated by the Government of India and the Tripura government. As part of the statewide protests, we hit the streets in Belonia.' Meanwhile, Tipra Motha party founder Pradyot Kishore Manikya Debbarma wrote on his Facebook page, 'We condemn the vandalising of Kabi guru Rabindranath Tagore home in Bangladesh. He not only wrote our national anthem but also that of present-day Bangladesh. How ungrateful can some people be to first vandalise Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman's statue and now Rabindranath Tagore's home! Not to forget that they also burnt down Maharaja Birchandra Library in Comilla. When will we realise that these people are one of the most ungrateful people around?' A Tipra Motha delegation led by Forest Minister Animesh Debbarma Saturday submitted a memorandum to the Tripura Governor. In the memorandum, the BJP alliance partner urged Prime Minister Narendra Modi to directly oversee the process of detection and deportation of illegal migrants who entered the state after March 24, 1971. The party also demanded the setting up of a special central task force for the detection and deportation of illegal migrants.
Indian Express
07-06-2025
- Politics
- Indian Express
Tipra Motha demands immediate detection, deportation of illegal Bangladeshi immigrants in Tripura
The Tipra Motha – a constituent of the ruling BJP-led alliance – has demanded the detection and deportation of all illegal migrants from Bangladesh residing in Tripura. A four-member delegation of the party, led by MLA Ranjit Debbarma, met Governor N Indrasena Reddy and raised the demand on Friday. 'We met the Governor today. The issue is that the Union Ministry of Home Affairs has stipulated a 30-day timeframe to start the process of detection and deportation of illegal migrants in Tripura. In other states, including Delhi, Maharashtra, Gujarat, and Assam, the process has already started. We have demanded that the process be started in Tripura too,' Debbarma told reporters after meeting Governor Reddy. He added that a similar kind of notification was also issued in 2017. The Tipra Motha leader said that not only the illegal migrants, but also those providing shelter to them, must be brought under the purview of the law. Earlier, Debbarma wrote to Union Home Minister Amit Shah on the illegal entry of Bangladeshi nationals, urging him to push them back. The Twipra Students' Federation (TSF) has also demanded that the government start the process of detecting and deporting Bangladeshi migrants staying illegally in the state. 'We have seen that other states are doing it. But the Tripura government is silent. We appeal to the government to take strong initiative regarding the notification. We have started the 'clean and drive illegal migrants mission' from today,' Hamal Jamatia, General Secretary, TSF, said. As per a report of the Tripura Police, 816 Bangladeshi nationals, 79 Rohingya persons, and two Nigerians were arrested between January 1, 2024, and February 28 this year for staying illegally in Tripura. A further breakup of the data shows that 483 illegal foreigners were arrested from August 5, 2024, when the Sheikh Hasina government fell in Bangladesh.
