A fresh online controversy erupted across the Northeast on Tuesday after Tipra Motha founder and Tripura royal scion Pradyot Bikram Manikya DebBarma shared a post questioning the behaviour of communities seeking Scheduled Tribe (ST) status. The post, originally written by Daniel Langthasa, warned that one “cannot become ST by lecturing and insulting existing STs,” urging aspirants to “shed the superiority complex.”
DebBarma’s decision to share the sharply worded message triggered immediate backlash from several community groups. Among the strongest responses came from a Facebook page named Kamatapur State, which accused the former royal of “revealing his hate” towards their community. The statement went further, calling him a “bluff master” and alleging that leaders from the Northeast only use the idea of unity for political gain.
The post also criticised DebBarma’s political relevance, claiming, “Your political career is over even before it starts,” and accused him of lacking “dignity or moral values.” The group also objected to his royal title, writing, “Stop calling yourself King. King have king values.” 
The exchange adds to ongoing tensions among communities campaigning for ST status in various Northeastern states, a highly emotive political issue that has seen repeated debates both online and on the ground. Neither DebBarma nor leaders of the groups involved have issued official statements beyond their social media posts.
