By our correspondent
Agartala, February 24, 2019: In upcoming Lok Sabha Polls, CPIM will eye at forming secular Government at Centre and there is no initiative to go for an understanding with Congress in Tripura. CPIM State secretary Gautam Das said this. He also came down heavily on former Governor of Tripura Tathagata Ray for his comments about Kashmiris.
Addressing a press conference in Agartala today, Gautam Das echoed Congress Chief Rahul Gandhi’s slogan of “Chowkidar Chor Hain (Watchman is thief)”. He said, The “Chowkidar Chor Hain” slogan has gathered huge response throughout the country. The person who had once claimed “zero tolerance to corruption” is now allegedly involved in ‘Rafale’ negotiation, he alleged.
“Chowkidar Chor Hain” remark immediately sparked speculation among the political experts as it seemed that Das was hinting at a pre-poll understanding between CPIM and Congress. In fact, possibility of a tie up, at least of some sorts, became bright as CPM and Congress suffered serious poll drubbing in the last assembly elections. However, Goutam Das declined any such arrangements in the state.
He claimed, the Left parties are eyeing to establish a secular government in the Centre by ousting BJP. He asserted, in State, CPIM state unit is up against the saffron party with all strength.
He also questioned Tripura’s former Governor Tathagata Ray’s stance on his Kashmir boycott claim. “How a person holding a constitutional post can pass such a trivial comments”. Continuing his tirade, Das said, it is true that the home ministry has shown distress, but the moot point is as to why Ray was not suspended from his post. Deb alleged, “Ray’s comments are not only incompatible but also support the separatist groups who are trying to snatch Kashmir from Indian Territory”.
Apart from this, Gautam Das also told the media persons that the state unit of CPM had written a letter addressing the Election Commission of India to revive appropriate atmosphere for an election. Detailing a note of violent attacks on the CPIM party cadres, he said, altogether six of our party cadres were killed in last 11 months, not less than 203 party cadres were hospitalized; the total attacks count now stood at 1515 throughout the state. Fisheries, farms, valuable properties were also ransacked during the period.
The CPIM leader urged the Election Commission of India to send a team of to take necessary measures before elections along with paramilitary forces.
