Corrupt, criminal cadres nominated since the last election: Barman
AGARTALA: The warning of West Tripura district magistrate to news channels of the state to stop airing anti-social activities of left front candidate in Barjala by-poll, Jhumu Sarkar, has triggered a controversy among political parties over the neutrality of the administration to ensure a fair election.
The opposition Trinamool Congress, BJP, and tribal-based Indigenous Nationalist Party of Tripura (INPT) and Indigenous Peoples’ Front of Twipra (IPFT) criticised the left front government for mobilising administration to protect their political interest.
They also threatened to move Election Commission of India (ECI) against the officers including West Tripura District Magistrate (DM) Milind Ramteke and Sadar Sub-divisional Magistrate (SDM) Samit RoyChoudhury for working directly at the behest of ruling CPI(M).
The parties in separate reactions alleged that the ruling leftist has lost all morale and became power crazy, which resulted in them attempting to control media in their favour by illegally using administration.
The dissident faction of CPI (M) Barjala nominee Jhumu Sarkar on Tuesday leaked a video footage from last week to local media regarding a fight between two groups in bordering locations of Agartala over the immersion of a Durga idol where Sarkar was seen in a scuffle and beating others.
The video also showed he was involved in a fight with females presumably after consuming liquor.
Immediately after airing the footage, CPI (M) allegedly asked DM Ramteke to take action against the television channels and disconnect their network unless they stop airing the video.
“We got repeated calls from SDM threatening us to stop airing the video against CPI-M candidate Sarkar. He referred the verbal instruction of DM and finally asked the administration to disconnect the network, which forced us to stop the screening of footage for the time being,” sources said.
Reacting to the happenings, Trinamool Congress legislator Sudip Roy Barman said, “We made it clear to both the officers and the administration if they wanted to get involved in CPI(M) politics and try to favour them, we shall resist it by legal method. We don’t want interference in the functioning of press and media.”
He further stated that since the last election, CPI(M) has been nominating criminals, murderers and corrupt cadres in the election. As many as five such MLAs have been representing CPI(M) in the current assembly who are accused of either criminal activities or charged with corruption.
They become muscle men in the assembly and whenever opposition raised a voice against the government, they began to violently attack its members, Barman alleged.
Meanwhile, BJP vice president Subal Bhowmik condemned the attitude of the left front to kill the democracy and added, “We want to request the administration to be neutral in their discharge; otherwise, law will take it’s own course.
The Congress president Birajit Sinha stated that in all the elections, CPI(M) used administration for their favour and insert pressure tactics on the media too. However, if this continues Congress would go for mass movement.
CPI (M) state secretary Bijan Dhar denied the allegations and alleged that the video was fabricated with concocted facts. He smelled opposition behind it and claimed that Sarkar is a well-educated gentleman who went to stop the fight and he was in no way involved.
“The television channels aired the video without any verification and triggered serious tension in the area. The party is meeting with DM to look into the matter as per law. But we cannot dictate administration and how they will perform their duties” Dhar added.
However, Ramteke and Choudhury refused to comment on the matter. (UNI)