Tipra Motha MLA demands push back of illegal migrants, leads massive rally in Agartala

Tipra Motha Party legislator Ranjit Debbarma on Monday issued a stern warning to the state and central governments, demanding urgent implementation of the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) directives to identify and push back illegal immigrants from Bangladesh and Myanmar residing in Tripura.

Addressing a massive non-political rally in Agartala, which commenced from Rabindra Shatabarshiki Bhavan, Debbarma said the movement would intensify if concrete actions are not taken immediately.

“The government must act. The MHA's directives on illegal immigration have already been implemented in states like Assam, Arunachal Pradesh, Maharashtra, New Delhi, Haryana, and Tamil Nadu. Why is Tripura being left out? If our demands are ignored, we will launch a larger agitation. We will not retreat,” Debbarma said.

Recalling his long-standing stance on the issue, the MLA added, “In 1997, I raised the issue of illegal migration from Bangladesh at the United Nations in Switzerland. This is not a sudden concern — it’s a decades-old fight.”

Stressing the non-political nature of the protest, Debbarma said participants marched carrying the national flag, symbolizing the national importance of the issue.

“This is not against any particular community. It’s a call to identify and push back those who have entered illegally and are encroaching on our rights, land, and future. These individuals pose a threat to both national security and sovereignty,” he added.

He also invoked the words of Tipra Motha Party founder and royal scion Pradyot Kishore Manikya Debbarma, quoting him: “Community first, then party.”

"Today, I am not here as a politician, but as a common man. People from all communities have come together for a common cause — to protect the future of our indigenous people and ensure justice. This is a matter of survival, and we will continue this movement until our voices are heard," Debbarma concluded.