Last Update: February 08, 2023, 10:48 IST
The CPIM cadre said that the windows of their office were broken after the election results in 2018 but have not been repaired yet as they have been unable to enter the office for so many years. (News18)
Left workers say the party has been unable to open and operate its offices in the state, while TMC’s Abhishek Banerjee accused the BJP of attacking its workers and vandalizing their vehicles.
In 2018, a Lenin statue was vandalized in Bilonia area just after the BJP came to power in Tripura. The incident created such a stir in the state that the then Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh had to intervene asking the governor and the police to ensure peace.
Since then, the Left parties have accused the BJP of vandalizing their offices and not allowing workers to work from the premises.
With 2021 municipal elections cut short, the opposition accused the BJP of intimidating its leaders and workers. The Trinamool Congress (TMC) claimed that its leaders, including all India General Secretary Abhishek Banerjee was attacked.
In battleground Tripura, which is all set to go to polls on February 16, News18 investigates whether law and order is still an election issue on the ground as the opposition once again takes on the BJP.
On its way to Tripura’s Udaipur, News18 found a two-storey CPIM office with broken windows on the main road at Bisramganj in Charilam constituency. Asked about the damage, Arun Dev Barma – a party cadre for nearly 30 years – said: “These windows were broken after the election results in 2018. You must be wondering why we haven’t repaired it yet. This is because for the last four years we could not even enter this office. The police did not help us. They have spread terror in the last four years.
Another worker, Palas Dev Barman, said: “We came on August 15 last year. Now it’s election time and everything is under the government Election The Commission (EC) may be because till now they have not tried to scare us.
A woman who did not wish to be identified said: “My mother was a CPIM worker. She had to sell our house and now lives in Agartala.”
Speaking to News18, former chief minister Manik Sarkar said: “This is fascism. They do what they like. Police does nothing, does not register a case.
Tipra Motha chief Pradyot Manikya echoed the sentiment. “Law and order is a serious issue. The last four years were violent. The BJP has made the police its toy. All elections after 2018 have been violent.”
TMC’s Abhishek Banerjee said several party workers were attacked in the state. “Earlier, when we used to come to Tripura, we were brutally attacked and our cars were vandalized. Despite being a woman and an MP, MP Sushmita Dev was not spared. His car was vandalised. Not only this, many party workers have been put behind bars in false cases.
As the opposition launched a joint attack on the BJP, the party dismissed allegations of poor law and order in the state.
Speaking to News18, the party’s Tripura chief Rajib Bhattacharya lashed out at the opposition and said: “The CPIM has forgotten what it used to be. 11 workers of our party had died before 2018. TMC is making such allegations. What do they do in Bengal? There has been development in Tripura. According to the figures, the law and order here is good.
While political upheaval continues, locals believe that whoever comes to power should ensure peace and security. ,
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