Democracy is being 'slaughtered' in Tripura : Manik Sarkar Lambasts BJP

Agartala: Former Tripura Chief Minister and CPI(M) leader Manik Sarkar on Wednesday lambasted the BJP government in the state alleging that it has "murdered" democracy in the state.

Speaking to a press conference at the CPI(M) headquarters in Agartala, the capital of Tripura, Manik Sarkar said that ‘individual rights, civil liberties, and human rights have been damaged under BJP rule’.

Sarkar had served as the Chief Minister of Tripura for 20 years since 1998 until he lost to the BJP-IPFT coalition earlier this year, thereby enabling the saffron party to make inroads into the northeastern state that has predominantly been a left castle.

Accusing the ruling BJP of draconian political violence on the opposition supporters, especially those of CPI(M), Sarkar said that the saffron party is attempting to silence the voice of the opposition in Tripura.

“The BJP grabbed power by hatching conspiracies and ploys. People are gradually realizing it now,” Manik Sarkar said and added that common people wouldn’t stay silent for long.

Sarkar did not stop at this and further alleged that the BJP government has forced elected public representatives to resign from their positions.

Over 50 percent of seats in three-tier Panchayat bodies went vacant within five months of the new Government. By-election was announced but Opposition supporters were barred from submitting nomination papers. Those who collected nomination papers were attacked and their houses ransacked. This is an unnatural by-election,” Manik Sarekar said

In an earlier instance this week, Tripura Chief Minister Biplab Deb castigated his predecessor Manik Sarkar by calling him the “most corrupt Chief Minister” of the state. Biplab was at New Delhi to attend the National Executive Meeting of the BJP. Speaking to reporters, Biplab made this scathing remark.