The Tripura Pradesh Congress Legal Department is set to expand its grassroots role by creating district-level legal panels.
The proposed network will assist people facing alleged rights violations, police action and legal cases. Congress leaders also urged lawyers to increase public engagement and help people understand constitutional and legal safeguards.
Key Takeaways
- Tripura Congress plans district-level legal panels to assist people facing alleged rights violations, police action and legal cases.
- Lawyers will be encouraged to increase grassroots outreach and help people understand constitutional and legal safeguards.
- The Congress Legal Department will coordinate with the PCC to strengthen its organisational and public-service role across Tripura.
Legal Panels to Support People Facing Rights Issues
The Tripura Pradesh Congress Legal Department held an important meeting at Pradesh Congress Bhavan in Agartala. The meeting focused on strengthening the legal wing and expanding its role among people.
Legal Department chairman and advocate Harekrishna Bhowmik, Tripura Bar Association president Pritha Deb Pal, Pradesh Congress president Ashish Kumar Saha, general secretary Prashanta Sen Chowdhury, MLA Sudip Roy Barman and Gopal Chandra Roy attended the meeting.
Ashish Saha said the Legal Department must go beyond functioning as an organisational wing. He said lawyers must actively fulfil their responsibilities towards people and society.
Saha recalled an All India Congress Legal, Human Rights and RTI Department conclave held in Delhi last year. He said Sudip Roy Barman, Bijur Babu and several lawyers from Tripura had attended the event.
According to Saha, senior Congress leaders highlighted the important role of lawyers in the present situation. He said lawyers must help protect democratic and constitutional rights and strengthen public resistance against injustice.
District-Level Network Planned
Saha said the national Congress leadership had called for district-level legal panels across the country.
The proposed panels will work with people facing alleged injustice, harassment and rights violations. They will also deal with public-interest issues and help place relevant information before the public.
He said lawyers should assist people who face police action or legal cases while raising public-interest concerns.
The legal network will also help people understand available legal remedies. Saha said lawyers must stand beside people when they face cases or alleged harassment.
He said the initiative would help take the Congress organisation closer to people at the grassroots level.
The state Legal Department will coordinate with the Pradesh Congress Committee. Lawyers will work according to local requirements and remain connected with the PCC.
Lawyers Urged to Raise Public Awareness
Sudip Roy Barman also called upon lawyers to play a larger role in public life.
Describing lawyers as part of the intellectual section of society, he said they remain closely connected with political, economic and social developments.
Roy Barman alleged that the BJP-led government was taking the country backwards on several fronts. He raised concerns over inflation, public debt and the economic situation.
He claimed that the rising debt burden would ultimately affect ordinary citizens through higher financial liabilities.
The Congress MLA also highlighted the work of previous Congress governments in education, healthcare, agriculture, industry, infrastructure and scientific research.
He referred to bank nationalisation and rights-based welfare measures as examples of major policy decisions taken under Congress governments.
Development Cannot Come at Environmental Cost
Roy Barman said Congress was not against development or industrialisation.
However, he argued that economic development cannot come at the cost of forests and environmental security.
He expressed concern over large-scale tree felling in different parts of the country. He warned that environmental degradation could threaten the future of young people.
Roy Barman said the younger generation must have access to clean air and a safe environment.
Congress Raises Concern Over History and Social Fabric
Roy Barman also accused the BJP and its ideological affiliates of attempting to distort Indian history.
He referred to debates surrounding Vande Mataram and the national flag. He alleged that attempts were being made to rewrite aspects of the freedom movement.
The Congress MLA also criticised what he described as efforts to undermine the contributions of Jawaharlal Nehru and Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose.
Roybarman further raised concerns over caste-based discrimination. He said incidents of social discrimination showed that the social fabric of the country remained under pressure.
The Congress leader accused the BJP of promoting ideas that could take the country towards a medieval mindset. He stressed the importance of constitutional values and democratic principles.
Focus on Grassroots Congress Organisation
Roy Barman urged lawyers to engage with people beyond their professional responsibilities.
He asked them to interact with residents in their neighbourhoods and local areas.
R said lawyers could use their knowledge and access to information to explain political, economic and social developments.
He also called for greater participation in Congress programmes and membership drives.
According to Roy Barman, lawyers can help build awareness among people at the local level. He said such engagement would strengthen the party organisation and its connection with ordinary citizens.
Economic and Institutional Concerns
Roy Barman criticised the economic policies of the BJP government and expressed concern over the falling value of the rupee.
He also claimed that foreign investors were moving investments to countries such as Vietnam, Sri Lanka and Singapore.
He warned that economic problems could have long-term consequences for the country.
Roy Barman also questioned the functioning of major democratic institutions. He expressed concern over the judiciary and the media.
He raised concerns about E20 fuel and the possible impact of artificial intelligence data centres on water resources in major cities.
Call to Defend Constitutional Rights
The meeting ended with an appeal for greater involvement by lawyers in public affairs.
Ashish Saha stressed that the proposed legal panels should provide practical assistance to people facing legal difficulties. He also emphasised coordination between the Legal Department and the Pradesh Congress Committee.
Roy Barman urged lawyers to remain active in defending constitutional values and democratic rights.
The Congress leaders said the legal wing has a wider responsibility than party organisation alone. They want lawyers to help people access legal support, understand their rights and raise public-interest concerns.ย
