AGARTALA: As the BJP-led coalition is losing ground across Tripura, the party has grown more desperate to silence the opposition, the CPI(M) and Congress alleged on Sunday, pointing to an incident at Kalibazar in Bamutia where former chief minister Manik Sarkar’s convoy was allegedly obstructed by ruling party workers.
According to the CPI(M), a group of BJP workers gathered near the CPI(M) office in Kalibazar around noon and tried to block Sarkar’s car as it arrived for a DYFI sub-divisional conference. Youth volunteers reportedly confronted the group and helped the vehicle enter the party office premises.
It is learned that the convoy was also met with black flags, “go back” slogans, and stones and eggs, allegedly by workers led by former BJP MLA Krishnadhan Das and the local mandal president. Police reached the spot and cleared the area, following which the conference was held as scheduled.
Addressing the gathering, Sarkar said, “Those who tried to attack today are not our enemies. We will need to talk to them once the situation is under control.”
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In its statement, the CPI(M) state leadership said, “The CPI(M) state unit strongly condemns and denounces this despicable conduct of the new fascist RSS-BJP and demands proper action against those involved.” It added that the party’s “fear and weakness” over its dwindling public support was behind the attempt to stop Sarkar’s programme, and that the RSS-run BJP was “gradually losing ground under its feet” across the country.
The Tripura Pradesh Congress echoed the charge. Spokesperson Prabir Chakraborty said in a statement, “BJP-backed anti-social elements attacked a youth programme in fascist style and assaulted him.” He demanded that “the ruling party’s attacking anti-socials” be arrested and punished and linked the episode to fears of a rigged voter list ahead of village council elections.
Meanwhile, Leader of Opposition and CPI(M) Politburo member Jitendra Chaudhury also condemned the incident, questioning how it occurred despite police being present at the spot beforehand. Senior Congress leader and MLA Sudip Roy Barman called it “condemnable” and said the state was witnessing a breakdown of democratic norms.
According to reports, locals present at the site also raised questions over the Rose Valley scam and the reinstatement of 10,323 sacked employees.
