October 26, 2018: Tripura Pradesh Congress today staged a demonstration outside the CBI office in Agartala to protest against the removal of the agency’s Director Alok Verma. In the wake of internal showdown in CBI between Alok Verma and special director Rakesh Ashthana, State Congress – as part of nationwide agitation – gheraoed the CBI office in Agartala and raised anti-Government slogans.
Pradesh Congress in-charge Bhupen Bora accused the Centre of conspiring against the investigating agency’s chief and alleged that the credibility of the Central Bureau of Investigation had taken a beating.
PCC Chief Birajit Sinha said, “Verma was removed from the post because the CBI wanted to initiate a probe into the Rafale deal. It is a conspiracy. We are protesting against that. It is an attempt to cover up the Rafale controversy”. Verma and his deputy Rakesh Asthana were divested of their duties on Wednesday after they levelled allegations of bribery against each other.
Tripura Pradesh Congress – despite its miserable performance in last Assembly polls – did not miss a chance to protest against BJP-led State and Central Governments. Braving heavy electoral defeat, State Congress is raising voice and holding agitations against the BJP-led Governments while main Opposition CPI-M has kept itself busy in issuing statements only.
In its bid to regain lost grounds, Congress is highlighting Rafale controversy and now blended the CBI tussle with the controversy.