Agartala: What was meant to be a show of strength for the Communist Party of India (Marxist) turned into a dramatic confrontation today when hundreds of women protesters stormed their district conference, demanding the return of money lost in the Rose Valley chit fund scam during the party’s previous regime, forcing law enforcement to intervene to prevent the situation from escalating into violence.
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The fourth district conference of CPI(M)’s North Tripura District Committee began at 10 AM at the Vivekananda Sardha Shatabarshiki Bhavan in the North Tripura District Sadar Dharmanagar with former Chief Minister and senior Politburo Member Manik Sarkar as the chief guest. In the event many other senior leaders including Tapan Chakraborty, Pabitra Kar, Rajendra Reang and other party workers were present. The event, which started with traditional flag hoisting by the central committee member Aghor Debbarma and tributes to martyrs, was quickly overshadowed by unexpected developments outside the venue.
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As Sarkar launched into a scathing attack on the ruling BJP-led government over rising prices and unemployment, a large contingent of women protesters, reportedly victims of the multi-crore Rose Valley scam, gathered outside the building. Their protest banners read “We Are Poor, Manik Sarkar, We Want Our Money Back,” creating a stark contrast to the former Chief Minister’s rhetoric inside.
The protesters, though contained by police barricades, maintained their position for nearly 30 minutes, their slogans drowning out portions of Sarkar’s speech. Many intellectuals who witnessed the protest noted the absence of any political party flags among the protesters, fueling speculation about the spontaneity of the demonstration. Local sources suggest the protest might have been orchestrated by the ruling BJP to counter the Communist gathering.
Inside the venue, Sarkar appeared unfazed, continuing his attack on the BJP government. “Prices of essential commodities continue to rise. While this may not affect the wealthy, it represents a major assault on 80-85% of our population,” he declared, even as protesters outside reminded attendees of his own government’s alleged role in the chit fund scandal.
The controversy deepened when Dharmanagar MLA Biswabandhu Sen accused the former Left Front government of facilitating the Rose Valley scam. “The very people who claim to fight for the poor allowed these chit fund companies to loot common people’s savings,” Sen told reporters, adding that Union Home Minister Amit Shah is actively working to resolve the matter.
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Meanwhile, the district conference concluded with the election of Abhijit De as the new district secretary, though the day’s events highlighted the continuing tensions between the former ruling party and victims of the chit fund scam.
While CPI(M) leader Amitabha Datta dismissed the protest as a politically motivated stunt, he said, “Those who tried to disrupt the conference with their cheap tricks only strengthened our resolve. This district conference has been a resounding success because of the hard work of our party workers and their unity against these conspiracies. The protests only proved that we remain a force to reckon with in Tripura.” He also expressed gratitude to law enforcement for maintaining order and preventing any serious disruption to the event.
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