Tripura’s ruling BJP on Thursday appeared to play down ally TIPRA Motha’s claims that its founder had been insulted by the Gomati district magistrate by refusing to meet him, and accused the Opposition CPM and Congress of trying to win brownie points out of the issue.
BJP state spokesperson Subrata Chakraborty said, “The Congress and CPM are trying to give political colours to a recent undesirable incident between Pradyot Kishore Debbarma and Gomati district magistrate and are trying to gain brownie points over the issue. They are making self-contradictory statements and trying to confuse people to malign the state government on social media.”
Chakraborty’s comments came as a surprise as tension between the BJP and TIPRA Motha was rather high in the last few days, especially during the shutdown observed by the Youth TIPRA Federation (YTF), the tribal party’s youth wing, in Gomati district against the alleged insult to Pradyot Kishore Debbarma and Tripura ADC Chief Executive Member Purna Chandra Jamatia.
The YTF observed the shutdown on June 2 and kept the Gomati district magistrate’s office locked, drawing criticism from the CPM and Congress as the Motha’s protest took place amid a prevailing flood situation.
Chakraborty’s comments also came a day after the YTF threatened to scale up protests. “If no action is taken against the DM, we will launch a statewide agitation next week. We will announce details of our agitation ahead of launching it,” YTF President Suraj Debbarma told reporters on Wednesday.
Political observers had assumed the BJP would take a stern stand, especially since it doesn’t need TIPRA Motha to maintain the majority in the Assembly. The party has 33 MLAs in the 60-member House.
TIPRA Motha, which has 13 MLAs, had served as the principal Opposition party for nearly a year since the 2023 Assembly elections, after which it switched sides and joined the state government.
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Chakraborty singled out Leader of the Opposition Jitendra Chaudhury, Congress MLA Sudip Roy Barman and a “few others” and said Chief Minister Manik Saha had already asked the chief secretary to investigate the Gomati issue.
He further said the chief minister would talk to Pradyot once he returned to the state.
The BJP spokesperson said the saffron party, TIPRA Motha and the IPFT were committed to working collectively for the state’s development. He condemned what he said were online attempts to create communal sentiments.
Stating that the BJP-led state government is working with people from all communities, religious groups, and sects, Chakraborty urged the people to “stay cautious” about provocateurs.
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Asked about the YTF’s agitations, Chakraborty said the association was free to protest, but urged everyone to keep faith in the chief minister.
His comments are considered crucial in the aftermath of the YTF agitation which took place after a 96-hour deadline for the government to take action against the Gomati district magistrate expired.
A large number of netizens criticised the YTF agitation that took place while thousands have sheltered in relief camps. Many others supported the right to protest.
CPM MLA Chaudhury, who criticised the Gomati district magistrate’s refusal to meet Pradyot, also termed the YTF action of locking up the office undemocratic and illegal. “People suffered a lot due to the agitation…,” he said.