[Marxistindia] Attacks in Tripura

[news from the cpi(m)]

September 14, 2021
 
Press Release
 
The BJP in Tripura backed by the state government has unleashed a reign of
terror and intimidation against all activities of the opposition in Tripura
focusing their anger and frustration against the CPI(M) and the Left Front.
It has also attacked media houses who report the truth. It is as though the
Constitution of India, the democratic rights guaranteed to the people by the
constitution and the norms of functioning in a parliamentary democracy have
all been suspended in Tripura under the leadership of the BJP Government. It
is deplorable that the Chief Minister himself has made the most provocative
statements, threats and outright lies justifying the attacks against the
CPI(M). From 2018 when the BJP assumed power, to the present, 21 supporters
and members of the CPI(M) including a woman have been killed. 
 
In many of the attacks on September 7 and 8th, by BJP mobs, shouting Jai
Shri Ram and armed with iron rods and petrol bombs, the police were either
bystanders or refused to respond to calls regarding the attacks on homes and
party offices. Some BJP leaders and Ministers have also made provocative
statements encouraging the attacks.
 
On September 7 and 8, 44 party offices (42 of the CPI(M), 1 RSP and 1
CPI(ML) have been attacked, burnt, party property destroyed. In an
unprecedented display of criminality, the State office of the CPI(M) in
Agartala was attacked, sought to be burnt, mobs entered the premises and
vandalized the bust of veteran tribal leader and former Chief Minister
Dasrath Deb. The CRPF guards deployed at the office were mysteriously
withdrawn an hour before the mob attack.67 houses and shops of CPI(M)
supporters have been burnt or looted. Scores of supporters have been
physically attacked of whom at least ten required immediate hospitalization.
Patronage is provided to the attackers while the police are filing false
cases and making arrests of CPI(M) supporters.
 
It is symbolic of the brazen nature of the attacks under state patronage
that the leader of the opposition and four-time Chief Minister of Tripura
Manik Sarkar was prevented and blockaded by the police from visiting his own
constituency on September 6. The modus operandi to prevent the leader of the
opposition (LOP) from fulfilling his constitutional duty is to gather a few
persons from the ruling party to oppose his programme and provide a pretext
to stop it. On September 6 while Manik Sarkar was going to attend mass
deputation to the BDO of Kathalia Block largely falling under his
constituency the police refused and put up barricades to stop him. He called
their bluff and insisted on his right to visit his constituency where
hundreds of people were waiting for him. Earlier on another occasion the
police remained bystanders when the care he was travelling along with other
MLAs and Party leaders to Shanti Bazar was physically attacked. Obviously
the administration and police were being given instructions by their bosses
in Government.
 
While the media has widely reported the attacks on CPI(M) offices and
supporters including the State Committee office, it is significant that the
country's Prime Minister and Home Minister are silent. It is an indication
of the central support of the Tripura Government that details of the attacks
on the CPI(M) sent to the Prime Minister by the CPI(M) General Secretary
Sitaram Yechury have not even been acknowledged. This is in sharp and stark
contrast the attitude to the Centre when they receive complaints, often
manufactured,  from BJP leaders in opposition ruled States.
 
These are the latest phase of attacks which started on the morrow of the
victory of the BJP in the State Assembly elections in 2018. Since March 2018
to June 2021, 662 party offices, 204 offices of Left mass organisations,
3363 houses of CPI(M) members and supporters, 659 shops have either been
gutted, ransacked or looted and 1500 livelihood centres such as fish ponds,
rubber trees and so on have been destroyed. Barbaric crimes against women
are increasing in a shameless manner. False cases are being imposed in a bid
to intimidate and silence CPI(M) leaders.
 
The attacks have increased and intensified because of the growing discontent
of the people against the State Government. Three years after it came to
power, the BJP Government has utterly failed to fulfill its promises. On the
contrary it has destroyed and reversed the welfare schemes for all sections
of people and also the pro-tribal policies of the Left front Government.
Today in Tripura there are starvation deaths, hunger has grown, joblessness
has increased, criminals are given a license, RSS is busy trying to sow the
seeds of hatred and division. When media reflects the reality they are being
attacked. More than 30 media persons have been physically attacked. In this
phase, 4 media houses critical of the BJP Government were attacked. The
increasing participation of people under the banner of the CPI(M) and the
left in Tripura has made the BJP desperate.
 
This attack on the opposition and particularly the Left in Tripura and the
attack on the independent media is also part of the growing intolerance and
all out assault on democracy that is happening all over India. This all out
attack on democracy must be condemned by all democratic minded people and
political parties.
 
The CPI(M) demands that the attacks and violence against the CPI(M) Left and
all opposition parties should stop; attacks on media should stop and they
should be allowed to function freely; the miscreants responsible must be
arrested and prosecuted; compensation must be given to those whose homes,
shops and other property destroyed; false cases against opposition party
leaders and workers should be withdrawn.
 
 
 
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