Tripura BJP faces criticism inducting tainted ex-PCCF

Agartala, Dec 15: The BJP Tripura state committee faced serious criticism after welcoming tainted former Principal Chief Conservator of Forest (PCCF) Sanatan Talukdar in the party. 

While Tripura Pradesh Congress Committee (TPCC) termed BJP as dustbin, ruling CPI-M considered the inclusion of Talukdar is reflection of BJP’s taste and culture.
The party leaders came under fire within and outside the party soon after welcoming Talukdar by BJP observer Sunil Deodhar and President Biplab Kumar Deb last evening. Both the leaders applauded the decision of a top bureaucrat and indicated that Talukdar will be used as an instrument against administrative corruption of left front government.
However, Talukdar stated that he was requested to be in the party and he is a prospective candidate form Chakma tribal dominated Pecharthal constituency of North Tripura. During his service life Talukdar was leftist but the state government had to serve him chargesheet a week before his retirement in July this year for his relentless corruption.
BJP party had also demanded strong action against Talukdar six months ago when he was served chargesheet for his involvement in illegal accumulation of fund in different ways through their subordinates, possessing disproportionate assets from his known sources of income and moral turpitude.
Talukdar along with his aides – incumbent Chief Conservator of Forest (CCF) Prabir Bhattacharjee and two other former CCFs – Debasish Chakraborty and C M Debbarma were accused by Lokayukta of Tripura in preliminary inquiry into several corruption cases in last five years. But the state government did not allow Lokayukta for detailed investigation despite repeated persuasions, as allegedly Chief Minister Manik Sarkar was not agreed.
According to official sources, the state vigilance department had completed the investigation of charges against Talukdar and others long back but the accused officials could able to influence the Chief Minister’s office and Chief Secretary’s office to delay the proceedings drawn against them.
Earlier Lokayukta had recommended the state government to initiate criminal case against Talukdar, retired CCF Debasish Chakraborty and accounts officer of Tripura forest department Amalendu Debbarma for indulging corruption to the tune of Rs 10.52 crore in the name of Jatropha cultivation.
The Lokayukta Justice P K Sarkar had asked the government to accord sanction to conduct further inquiry into the corruption against them while directed the accused officers to deposit the accounts of their movable and immovable property statement including their family members.
Lokayukta has also convicted PCCF Talukdar for allowing another tainted CCF Prabir Bhattacharjee to draw Rs 6687 per month as house rent for three decades despite living in a house built on BSNL land in the city occupying illegally by misusing his power.
Both Lokayukta and vigilance authority had recommended termination of PCCF Talukdar and both the CCF Chakraborty and Bhattacharjee from their service to prevent damage in the investigation by overpowering the system but unfortunately nothing was happened with them yet. UNI