Agartala: Trinamool Congress (TMC) on Sunday burnt the effigy of Tripura Chief Minister Manik Sarkar and demanded apology from him for his alleged anti-national remarks before foreign nationals in a seminar on Thursday.
TMC activists burnt the effigy of Sarkar at Orient Choumuhani, the heart of the town, for his remark in a business seminar.
Sarkar had remarked in the seminar said that India was showing ‘big brotherly attitude’ towards South Asian nations thereby tarnishing the image of the country as delegates from Bangladesh, Myanmar, Nepal, Bhutan, Japan and Russia were present there, TMC leader Sudip Roy Burman said.
“His voice corroborated the stand of Pakistan. He said it at a time, when Pakistan sponsored terrorists killed 18 Indian soldiers. We demand an unqualified apology from Sarkar and demand that he withdraw the statement,” Burman said.
Burman said a TMC delegation would meet Governor Tathagata Roy tomorrow to submit a memorandum against Sarkar.
He also raised the same issue in the assembly on Friday and demanded an adjournment for discussion, but the Speaker rejected his demand.
However, the Chief Minister then clarified his position saying “I have said our External Affairs ministry should have such an attitude that we can maintain a good relation with our neighbouring countries. We want good neighbours. India should not show any big brotherly attitude towards its neighbours. As an Indian, it is my right and I stick to my point.”
CPI(M) state secretary Bijan Dhar and the party’s Central Committee member Gautam Das said there was nothing wrong in the statement of the Chief Minister.
“He said our central government should not show any big brotherly attitude. We do not find anything wrong in it,” the two leaders told a press conference. “India should open dialogue with Pakistan to solve unresolved issues including Kashmir. Though we are of the view that Kashmir is an integral part of India,” they said. (PTI)
