May 14, 2018: Over the issue of Block Advisory Committee (BAC) in tribal areas, IPFT has come out against its alliance Partner BJP openly. IPFT demands allocation of Chairman post of BAC in tribal areas, however, being the larger party BJP is putting its candidates for the Post. Irked at BJP’s decision, IPFT today called an indefinite strike in Killa under Gomati district. IPFT supporters also held protest programme at Lefunga block under West Tripura district for similar demand. After a discussion, agitators withdrew strike in the evening but threatened to intensify stir unless their demand for IPFT chairman is accepted.
Apart from protesting over BAC chairman issue, IPFT is also giving BJP a hard time and not hesitant to launch attacks on BJP activists. On Sunday last, a group of miscreants, allegedly IPFT supporters, attacked BJP supporters at Mungiyakami under Teliamura as the later was returning to their village after attending a joining programme of BJP. In the attack, five BJP supporters were injured and a complaint against local IPFT workers was lodged. Based on the complaints, Police nabbed three accused.
In retaliation, IPFT activists gheraoed the Chamhaor Police Station under Khowai district and allegedly attempted to snatch away the arrested IPFT activists – however their attempt failed. On earlier occasion, IPFT cadres reportedly assaulted a BJP MLA and after Police nabbed the accused, IPFT staged road blockade at several places in Gomati District demanding immediate release of the arrested people.
With every passing day, rift and conflict between alliance partners – BJP and IPFT is escalating and tension is spreading in new areas causing a major security concern. The Chief Minister Biplab Deb constituted a five-member co-ordination team to mitigate the tension – however, so far the team has failed to indicate anything positive.
