The protestors were addressed, among others, by CPI(M) Polit Bureau member, Prakash Karat and Samar Chaudhary, CPI(M) MP and former home minister of Tripura.

The speakers said that violent activities by extremist groups in Tripura are an everyday occurrence . These extremist groups like the NLFT and ATTF are indulging in killing of ordinary people, abduction for ransom and extortion to mobilise money for arms and to spread terror. Their sinister aim is that of secession of the state of Tripura from India.

To achieve this diabolical end they are attacking the non-tribal population in order to drive them out. Attempts at fomenting ethnic tensions among tribals and non-tribals is an integral part of this scheme. Tripura is the only state in the north-east that has a record of inter ethnic harmony, thanks to the consistent efforts and sacrifices of the CPI(M) and the pro-people record of the Left Front government. This unity of the people is now sought to be undermined. Little wonder that the main attack of the terrorists is directed against the CPI(M) and it'’ cadres and leaders. It is not the BJP or Congress which is standing up to these heinous attacks but hundreds of CPI(M) cadres who are bravely defending national unity at the cost of even their lives.

Tripura, the speakers said, has an international boundary of 856 kms with Bangladesh. The state government with it’s meagre resources cannot be expected to raise police forces necessary to effectively man this vast and porous border. This is the responsibility of the central government. However, only 9 battalions of the BSF have been deployed along this vast boundary. This works out to one BSF battalion per 95 kms. In marked contrast to this, the international boundary in Kashmir, Punjab, Rajasthan and West Bengal is guarded by one BSF battalion per 15 kms, in addition to the presence of numerous military and para-military troops in most of these areas. Senior BSF officials have themselves pointed out that at least 18 BSF batallions are necessary to effectively man the border in Tripura. Besides this there is also a need to enhance the presence of the CRPF and Assam Rifles to counter the extremists. Similarly, while barbed wire fencing has been erected along the international border in Punjab, not a single metre of such fencing has been put up in Tripura.

The speakers came down heavily on the attitude of the central government towards ensuring the security of the international border along Tripura. For the past three years, the state government has been repeatedly requesting the central government to enhance deployment of forces to effectively meet the extremist challenge. The chief minister of Tripura has met the prime minister, home minister and defence minister three times in the past 6 months to urge upon them to take steps necessary to defend national unity in Tripura. Unfortunately, despite assurances, the central government has not taken any concrete steps in this direction as yet. This, the speakers said, amounted to abetment of those forces whose avowed aim is to make Tripura secede from India. This is nothing but playing narrow partisan politics with national unity.