Pradyot Bikram Manikya Deb Barma is the titular King of Tripura and the founder of the Tipra Motha Party. His party runs the Tripura Tribal Areas Autonomous District Council and is also an ally of the BJP at the state level, making him one of the key voices from the Northeast.

In this episode of the ANI Podcast with Smita Prakash, Pradyot talks about infiltration from Bangladesh, his demand for a separate state called Greater Tipraland, and why he feels the Northeast is facing a crisis of identity.

He also explains why he wants a “Bihar-style SIR” in Tripura, slams vote bank politics, and raises concerns about the rights of indigenous people. Pradyot looks back at Tripura’s merger with India, the legacy of his royal family, and his own journey from student politics to leading a regional party.

Timestamps

00:00 – Introduction

01:23 – Delay in the Tiprasa Accord

06:10 – Demand for SIR in the Northeast

13:52 – The Untold Story of Tripura’s Merger after Partition

18:28 – Refugee Influx in Tripura

32:43 – Local Identity vs. National Identity

38:31 – NRC and the Demand for Greater Tipraland

46:45 – Tribal Identity & Youth Aspirations in Tripura

54:20 – Tripura Royal Family & Entering Politics

1:00:24 – Snap Reaction Segment

1:24:35 – Movies, Mimicry & Languages

1:30:08 – Message to the Youth