From Our Correspondent
AGARTALA: The gang rape of two tribal girls on Thursday virtually stalled the schedule business- Question Hour and reference period in the Assembly as the opposition trained gun at Chief Minister Manik Sarkar.
The opposition legislators were so angry on the incident that Speaker Ramendra Chandra Debnath had to adjourn the House twice from 11 am to 2 pm. On March 20, two tribal girls were gangraped by six youths in South Tripura’s Joykishorpara, a remote tribal hamlet. Both victims are battling for life in Hospital.
Shortly after House began with Question Hour, Congress MLA Birajit Sinha termed the incident as barbaric and sought Sarkar’s reply on the incident. However, the Speaker down played Sinha’s demand saying the Question Hour was schedule business and members could take up the issue during reference period.
But opposition bench wanted immediate statement from the Chief Minister as opposition leader Ratan Lal Nath and others continued to hammer the House of the leader on the issue.
At one point of time, they rushed to the well and began chanting slogan against the Chief Minister for his failure to safeguard the women with placards. Sensing the trouble, the Speaker adjourned the House at 11.05. As the House reassembled again at 12,30 pm, the scene was same with opposition demanding resignation of Chief Minister for his alleged failure to contain crime against women. The demand, however, led to verbal war between two sides in the House prompting the Speaker to adjourned the House till 12.15 pm
In between, Chief Minister informed that the House that an FIR has been lodged against six persons in connection with the case and out of which five have already been arrested.
Aiming to pile more heat on the Chief Minister, Congress MLAs Sudip Roy Barman, Biswabandhu Sen and Subal Bhowik alleged it was the failure on the part of the Chief Minister who holds Home portfolio.
In reply, Sarkar made it clear that the government would ensure proper investigation into the incident and if police officer is found at fault position, he will face consequence.
Despite chief minister’s assurance, opposition went on slamming him for spiraling incidents of crime against women leading to war of words between treasury bench and opposition members. Finding no other alternative, the Speaker again adjourned the house till 2 pm.