Summary
- CPIM leaders of Tripura, Manik Sarkar and Jitendra Choudhury, slammed BJP-led coalition government over rising prices of essential commodities and utilities. They also opposed the installation of smart meters, accusing the government of ignoring public concerns and pushing privatization.
Agartala (Tripura), July 30: Veteran CPIM leader and former Tripura Chief Minister Manik Sarkar trained guns at the ruling BJP-led coalition government in the State over a host of issues including price hike.
CPIM State Secretary Jitendra Choudhury too criticized the saffron party and blaming the government for putting financial burdens on the poor and middle-class people by increasing prices of essential commodities.
Raising voice against the BJP & TIPRA Motha Party, Tripura unit of the Left Front Committee organized a mass sit-in protest today at Orient Chowmuhani in Agartala, demanding the immediate rollback of increased prices of essential utilities including electricity, CNG, PNG, drinking water, and Gomati milk.
The protest also voiced strong opposition to the installation of smart meters, which the Left Front alleges are being implemented despite objections from consumers.
Former Chief Minister Manik Sarkar, CPI(M) State Secretary Jitendra Chaudhury, former minister Manik Dey, and several others were present in the sit-in-protest and condemned the government’s “anti-people policies” and warned of intensified public movements if the demands are not addressed.
Addressing the gathering Manik Sarkar brought a scathing attack on the ruling BJP led coalition government and stated, “The BJP government is unleashing a reign of loot in the state of Tripura, where corruption has spread to every corner of the administration. And now TIPRA Motha has joined this brigade to loot the state.”
“Today, the people are being burdened with constant hikes in utility prices. The BJP in 2018 first and then in 2023 next made multiple grand promises, but never did they mention that they would impose tax on essentials and burden the people of Tripura,” Sarkar said, adding that this BJP has made all out tricks to grab power. He said, “During the election campaign, even the Union Finance Minister promised central financial support but nothing such happened.”
He also slammed the TIPRA Motha and stated, “TIPRA Motha helped the BJP retain power and later mis governed the Autonomous District Council (ADC) areas. After winning, it turned the ADC into a hub of corruption.”
On the other hand, the CPI(M) State Secretary Jitendra Choudhury said that during the last 7 and half years, prices of essentials were hiked to put burden on the common masses of the state. He said, “During the last 2 years, the power tariff was hiked multiple times, and that too without taking any suggestions from the consumers.”
Regarding installation of smart meters in every household, Choudhury has hit out at the BJP led coalition government and said, “Installation of smart meters is a first step towards privatization of the power sector.” He further said, “We are not against advanced technologies, but then such technologies are supposed to be pro-people, which can ease the people.”
“Government is trying to avoid the potential questions in regard to the smart meters in order to keep the consumers in darkness,” he added.
