The IPFT sponsored 24-hour strike in TTAADC area passed off peacefully till the report filing. Supporters of IPFT – a regional party and an ally of ruling BJP-IPFT coalition – called the strike demanding release of one of the IPFT leaders who was arrested for his alleged involvement in recent attack on BJP State president Dr Manik Saha. The strike paralyzed the life in Khumulwng, the TTAADC headquarters area – as expected. However, amidst peaceful strike, IPFT MLA – Brishakeyu Debbarma fired verbal salvo at BJP.
Earlier, since the early morning of Thursday, Khumulwng the ADC headquarters of Tripura wore a deserted look with no one being allowed to venture out with the IPFT picketers moving here and there around the region.
In order to ensure the success of the IPFT called 24 hour Bandh in the ADC, the IPFT supporters spilled over the region and made sure that no commercial establishment open doors and all the government run offices remain out of operation. Although the party left out health related services or Covid 19 duties from the purview of the Bandh, the area remained more or less deserted barring the IPFT supporters. Tyres were burnt, roads were blocked and intensified picketing took place at almost everywhere.
Thousands of IPFT supporters gathered in front of the main Khumulwng city and the vehicular movement and other services were brought to a standstill. The officials of concerned departments were made to move back by the party supporters.
Speaking to the media, IPFT MLA Brishaketu Debbarma reacting to the strike, said, “We have a very clear demand. People of our party can not be implicated with false charges and the government must release him at any condition. The non-bailable sections charged on IMWE president Pradip Debbarma bear no factual ground and all of those charges are fabricated”.
Debbarma, who is among the IPFT’s youth leaders also threatened the BJP—the senior partner in the BJP-IPFT coalition government of intensified stir if the demands were not met.
“The BJP is wholeheartedly trying to break the IPFT in rural areas. But, unfortunately, people are less interested in going with BJP. People have understood as to how the BJP came to power depending upon tall claims and empty promises. Before the elections, the IPFT has been branded as a miscreants organization but not a single time IPFT tried to disturb the peace and tranquility. On the other hand, the BJP is trying to incite trouble in the ADC areas”, Debbarma told reporters.
Debbarma also said that already the BJP top-brass and the Chief Minister had been informed to break the alliance with the IPFT if they were unwilling to stay in it.
“The Chief Minister is well aware of IPFT’s stance. We have even made it clear that if the BJP wants to run the government alone then break the alliance and run the government independently. But, we will not retreat from our demands”, The IPFT MLA said.
The IPFT MLA also included that the movement of IPFT was to protect the identity of the indigenous population and it had nothing to do with power or an administrative chair.
“The political ideology of IPFT is to protect the identity of indigenous people of the state. We don’t want any power for that. The MLAs in this coalition government are not more than that of a puppet. There are no powers conferred in the hands of legislators whether he belongs to IPFT or BJP does not matter”, Debbarma claimed.
