Tripura’s Left Front rallies for nationwide strike on May 20, demanding an end to privatization and labor codes. Manik Dey slams Modi’s policies, while CPIM leaders face attacks in Kamalpur.
Agartala, April 20 : Left organizations at various places in Tripura, including in Sonamura and Kumarghat, held conventions and public meetings on Sunday to drum up support for a nationwide strike set for May 20.
Backed by ten major central trade unions and federations, the strike demands the repeal of anti-labor codes, an end to privatization, and action on a 17-point charter to safeguard the rights of workers and citizens.
Nationwide Strike on May 20
In Sonamura, the Communist Party of India (Marxist) [CPIM] organized a convention attended by party workers from four assembly constituencies.
CITU State president and CPIM Central Committee member Manik Dey came down heavily on the Central Government, accusing Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s third term of driving India into economic chaos through corporate-centric policies.
“Workers’ demands have been ignored despite relentless protests. Banks have struck three times in the past year alone. This strike is our stand for justice,” Dey asserted.
Dey expressed grave concerns over the upcoming visit of the U.S. Vice President to India, warning it could lead to agreements harmful to Indian farmers.
I Earlier nationwide strike: Tripura : Trade unions and farmers rally ahead of nationwide strike l
He accused the government of surrendering India’s vast natural resources—especially the mineral-rich Krishna and Godavari basins in South India—to conglomerates like Adani and Ambani.
“Our nation’s wealth is being funneled to a handful of elites while markets stagnate and factories close,” Dey said, highlighting a cash shortage that has left workers unemployed and markets crippled.
In Tripura, Dey denounced the state’s democratic deficit, accusing the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) of manipulating elections, intimidating voters, and disrupting vote-counting processes.
“Elections in Tripura are a sham, drowned out by BJP’s propaganda,” he said.
With the strike just a month away, Dey called on party workers to intensify grassroots outreach to rally public support, stressing the need for a united front against the government’s policies.
A parallel meeting in Kumarghat, led by CPIM leader Amal Chakraborty, echoed these concerns.
Chakraborty accused both the Central and Tripura BJP governments of eroding constitutional protections, cautioning, “Without constitutional rights, the people’s ability to demand justice will vanish.”
He urged a strong public response to the May 20 strike to uphold democratic values.
CPIM Leaders Attacked in Kamalpur
The campaign faced a violent setback in Kamalpur, where seven CPIM leaders, including 70-year-old Ramani Das, were reportedly attacked by miscreants on Sunday while heading to a strike-preparation convention.
Former CPIM MLA Anjan Das pointed fingers at BJP supporters, noting Das’s fragile health due to a pacemaker.
“This attack on a senior leader like Ramani Das is despicable. We strongly condemn it,” Das said. The assault has heightened tensions, with CPIM leaders pledging to escalate their efforts.
As the nationwide strike on May 20 strike looms, Tripura’s Left Front is intensifying its campaign to challenge the government’s economic and political agenda.
