With the main Opposition party CPIM in Tripura up against the ruling BJP-led Government over the demolition drive on Thursday at the busy Lake Chowmuhani market in Agartala, Chief Minister Dr Manik Saha urged the Opposition leaders to refrain from politicizing the developmental initiatives.
CM Calls for Non-Politicization of Development
Speaking to the media on Friday, Chief Minister Dr. Manik Saha talked about the eviction drive, emphasizing that such measures were necessary for the state’s development. “It’s better not to politicize development work meant for the people’s needs,” Dr. Saha said. He commented that similar steps had been taken in the past as part of development efforts and that the drive was essential for the public good.
Opposition Condemns ‘Inhumane’ Demolition
Meanwhile, CPIM leaders continue to raise voice against the initiatives. After CPIM Politburo leader and ex-Tripura Chief Minister Manik Sarkar’s visit to the market after the demolition on Thursday and a protest rally by the leftists yesterday, CPIM State Secretary and Leader of the Opposition, Jitendra Choudhury, went to the Lake Chowmuhani market to meet the affected traders on Friday.
Condemning the demolition, he accused the BJP government of targeting small traders and questioned the government’s commitment to its slogan “Sabka Saath, Sabka Vikas.”
“When elections approach, the BJP government claims to stand for ‘development for all,’ but in reality, they have brought ruin to small traders. The double-engine government’s municipal corporation has kicked the poor in the stomach,” Choudhury remarked.
He assured the evicted traders that CPIM would stand firmly with them and urged them to rise above political affiliations to fight against what he called “inhumane” actions. Choudhury also announced that the opposition would raise strong objections to the eviction drive in the upcoming assembly session.
“The opposition isn’t against development. The government must modernize markets, but why should the poor be the ones to suffer? Bulldozing shops of daily wage earners without providing alternatives is unacceptable,” he added.
Protest rallies by CPIM
In the wake of the demolition, CPIM activists staged a protest rally, denouncing the government’s move. Manik Sarkar also interacted with traders and came down heavily condemning the drive as “inhumane.”
AMC Defends Demolition, Mayor speaks to traders
Following the eviction drive, Agartala Mayor Dipak Majumdar went to the site yesterday.
It is learnt prior to the demolition, Dipak Majumdar had multiple discussions with the market traders, urging them to cooperate with the initiative.
He specifically addressed those who had constructed temporary and permanent structures illegally on the embankment behind the market, asking them to dismantle their shops. Despite his requests, the traders did not take action resulting in the demolition.
The Mayor, during post eviction drive visit, said that the drive was part of the municipal corporation’s plan to modernize every market in the city including the Lake Chowmuhani market. He pointed out that numerous complaints had been lodged about the market, and two surveys identified over a hundred illegally constructed shops.
Despite the opposition’s sharp criticism, the Mayor assured that efforts to provide alternative facilities would be made for the affected traders, ensuring that the market’s transformation would benefit the entire community.
A Growing Political Face-off
However, CPIM leaders continue to slam the government over the issue. In support of the evicted traders, CPIM organized a public gathering in Agartala in which Jitendra Choudhury and other CPIM leaders trained guns at the ruling dispensation on this issue.