By splitting Bangladesh, India possesses sufficient authority to form another nation: Pradyot Debbarma

 Pradyot Kishore Manikya Debbarma, the royal scion of Tripura and founder of Tipra Motha, delivered a bold and evocative speech on Thursday during a massive solidarity rally. The rally was held to show support for the minority communities in Bangladesh, who have been facing escalating violence and discrimination. In his address, Debbarma made a striking assertion: India holds the power to divide Bangladesh, just as it had previously divided Pakistan to create the country in 1971.

By splitting Bangladesh, India possesses sufficient authority to form another nation: Pradyot Debbarma

"I am not here today as the leader of Tipra Motha," Debbarma began, "but as a proud member of the royal family of Tripura, a family whose people once ruled the regions of Brahmanbaria, Khagrachari, Comilla, and Chottogram—areas that now belong to Bangladesh. It is heartbreaking to witness the suffering of our people, who were part of Tripura 70 years ago, now facing attacks on their temples, churches, and very lives."

He expressed deep sorrow at the plight of these communities, emphasizing that the violence they face does not reflect the culture of Tripura. "This is not who we are," he said. "The Maharajas of Tripura fostered a tradition of tolerance and unity. We built temples, mosques, and provided land to Christians. This spirit of coexistence is the true legacy of Tripura, a legacy that Bangladesh must not forget."

Debbarma highlighted that the cultural essence of Tripura has always embraced religious harmony. "In Tripura, we honor all faiths. We perform pujas, we revere Buddha, and we respect Christ. Even today, Muslim communities in Tripura safeguard our Hindu deities, and the Raj Baari continues to hold Islamic prayers. This is the India we belong to—a land of diversity, respect, and peace."

Turning his attention to Bangladesh, Debbarma did not hold back his critique. "Without Tripura’s support, Bangladesh would not exist today. The Mukti Bahini, which fought for Bangladesh’s independence, was aided by Tripura and India. Yet now, we hear slogans from Bangladesh challenging India and threatening to capture Tripura and the Northeast. Let me remind them—the Muslims of India will show the Muslims of Bangladesh what true Islam is. We must unite and pressure the Indian government to hold Bangladesh accountable for the harm done to its minorities."

In a historic context, Debbarma referred to the long-standing friendship between India and Bangladesh’s founding leaders. "Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, Bangladesh’s father, and his daughter, Sheikh Hasina, were once friends of India. That friendship has kept India’s response measured and diplomatic for many years. But that friendship no longer holds the same weight," he warned.

His message grew even more forceful as he concluded, "If Bangladesh believes it can challenge India, I must remind them—India has the power to divide Bangladesh, just as we divided Pakistan to create it. If you continue to harm our minority communities, India will not stand idly by. We are the nation of Mahatma Gandhi, Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose, and Sam Manekshaw. And we will defend the principles they stood for."

Debbarma's impassioned speech resonated with the crowd, emphasizing the importance of unity, historical responsibility, and the strength that India continues to hold on the global stage.