Northeast needs unity, says Pradyot, citing Bangladesh threat

A renewed push for political unity in the Northeast gathered momentum on Friday as Tipra Motha Party founder Pradyot Kishore Manikya Debbarma signalled that regional forces are edging towards a common platform, with a formal announcement expected within days. The initiative, he suggested, could reshape long-fragmented political alignments across the region.

Speaking through a series of social media posts, Pradyot confirmed that talks were underway with multiple regional parties. He argued that the Northeast would command national attention only if local leadership shed internal rivalries. “The Centre will take us seriously when we stop fighting against each other and unite under one voice for our people,” he said. “Otherwise, we will remain divided, and none of the North Eastern states will gain anything.”

He maintained that unity among the region’s political outfits could offer practical gains, particularly in negotiations with the Centre. “If we come together, we can solve five problems out of ten. If we are not united, they will divide us,” he remarked.

Pradyot’s pitch for consolidation was accompanied by a strong warning on national security concerns. He raised the spectre of instability linked to Bangladesh’s internal politics, suggesting that developments there could spill across India’s eastern frontier. Referring to reports of Pakistani military presence in the Chittagong Hill Tracts, he said, “They are saying they have come to provide medical aid. But for medical aid, doctors would come, not Brigadiers or Generals.”

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He also cautioned that Bangladesh’s forthcoming election could usher in an “anti-India” government, potentially heightening tensions in border states such as Tripura, Assam and Meghalaya. “They will spread terror, hatred, and communal disturbance,” he warned, urging political actors to treat security concerns as paramount.

“CPIM, BJP, and Tipra Motha are not important, the protection of our people is important,” he said. “National security is bigger than political importance. Bangladesh is not a friend of India.”

Pradyot further alleged that cases involving forged Bangladeshi identity documents in Tripura were part of a broader effort to destabilise the region. “A big game is underway,” he claimed, calling on communities to remain united and vigilant as political negotiations continue.