Agartala (Tripura), June 24: Veteran CPIM leader and former Tripura Chief Minister Manik Sarkar launched a scathing attack on the BJP’s “Sushasan” (good governance) slogan, questioning its meaning in the face of what he described as rampant unemployment, soaring prices, and escalating assaults on opposition workers.
“If unemployment, lack of income, a collapse in purchasing power, starvation, and even incidents of baby-selling are examples of ‘Sushasan,’ then we have nothing left to say,” Sarkar retorted when asked about the CPIM’s reaction to the BJP’s good governance claims.
I Watch Tripura CPIM leaders speaking l
He also highlighted the government’s apparent inaction despite 15,000 vacant teaching positions in schools, and criticized a segment of the police force for allegedly remaining “mute spectators” to the prevailing unrest.
The former Chief Minister further opined that the ruling BJP is “losing ground” as frustration and disillusionment grip its own cadre, particularly the youth who had ardently supported the party.
“Growing frustration and weaknesses are clearly being reflected,” Sarkar stated. “Those who stood by the BJP with a lot of aspirations and expectations, particularly the youth – frustration among them is steadily growing.” He suggested that the attacks on Left supporters are a deliberate tactic designed to “distract the disgruntled youths and contain their desperation.”
According to Sarkar, the BJP’s alleged use of violence stems from fear, as they have observed a surge in public support for the CPIM’s demands concerning essential services like roads, electricity, education, and health. He believes these attacks are orchestrated to “create panic so that people do not unite against them.”
The immediate catalyst for Sarkar’s strong comments was the vandalization of local CPIM leader Badal Das’s residence at Alanganagar under the Barjala Constituency in Agartala on Sunday night.
A portion of Das’s home was damaged by miscreants shortly after a local conference of the CPIM’s frontal wing, the Khet Mazoor Union, concluded peacefully at the same location.
Eyewitnesses and party sources allege that a group of miscreants, reportedly affiliated with the BJP, launched a “pre-planned attack” under the cover of darkness, damaging the boundary wall and furniture. The assailants fled when family members and neighbors were alerted and emerged from their homes.
Manik Sarkar, accompanied by senior CPIM leader Ratan Das and former Member of Parliament Shankar Prasad Datta, visited the vandalized site on June 23 to meet the affected family and assess the damage.
Condemning the incident unequivocally, Sarkar declared, “This is nothing short of a cowardly assault. The ruling party is using violence as a tool to silence dissent and crush democratic voices.”
Residents alleged the administration has not issued a formal statement regarding the incident. However, local authorities have deployed additional police personnel to the area and have assured that an investigation is underway.
The attack has undeniably intensified the already charged political atmosphere in Tripura, with local residents urgently appealing to the administration for swift arrests and exemplary punishment to deter future acts of violence.
