Agartala: The BJP Tripura state committee on Thursday demanded arrest of CPI-M MLA Lalit Tripura of Gandacherra for his alleged involvement in the attack on All Tripura Indigenous Regional Parties’ Forum (ATIRPF) picketers on Wednesday during the 12 hour bandh observed in protest of Citizenship (Amendment) Bill, 2016.
BJP President Biplab Deb alleged that armed CPI-M cadres led by MLA Tripura had attacked the picketers in Gandacherra when they were agitating in front of a school for opening it defying their strike.
“BJP doesn’t support ATIRPF’s strike but we condemn the violent attitude of CPI-M party, including it’s MLAs, and top leaders who attacked the agitators brutally. The strike was against the Central government but could not understand how CPI-M got angry with them and assaulted them. The incident once again proved that ruling CPI-M is always against tribal,” Mr Deb asserted.
He pointed out that the MLA Lalit Tripura led CPI-M cadres and resorted a violent attack on the demonstrators with sharp arms in broad daylight in Gandacherra town.
The attackers were overpowered with arms and sticks and ganged up in nearby areas.
As soon as the picketers had reached, they injured more than 25 people. Similarly, the agitators were attacked by the ruling party cadres in Sabroom and Manughat when they protested against a section of businessmen and government officials for defying the strike.
In every case there was an attempt of CPI-M to break the peace and amity between tribal and non-tribals, Mr Deb added.
He stated that leaders of the parties were not aware of the status of the proposed bill.
Organising protest against the Central government without any understanding of the amendment would not help to protect the interest of the tribals.
“The tribal wing of BJP has decided to meet the Parliamentary Committee Chief of the bill soon to discuss the apprehension of the tribal people here. The committee will be invited in Tripura even before finalising the draft bill to meet the people on their view over the bill,” he said.
The draft will be tabled in the Parliament after the committee comprising of all party MPs satisfied with the provisions,” Mr Deb added.
On the other hand, CPI-M state committee denied the charge and alleged that the forum supporters attacked the innocent people who defied the strike.
They wanted to create tension in the state and people did not subscribe it, CPI-M statement said. (UNI)
