Tripura CM urges to voice against decisive forces

Agartala, Sep 20: Tripura Chief Minister Manik Sarkar today called upon the people of the state to maintain peace and raised united voice against decisive force, which has been trying to create unrest and disturb communal harmony. The Chief Minister condemned the attack and violence of tribal based opposition Indigenous Peoples’ Front of Tripura (IPFT) on the activists of CPI(M)’s tribal wing Gana Mukti Parisad (GMP) yesterday in different locations of Khowai and West Tripura districts. The violence carried out to prevent the supporters to attend central rally of GMP on the demand of empowerment of Tripura autonomous district council, inclusion of Kokborok in 8th schedule of the Constitution, Special Package of Employment for Northeast and maintaining peace and tranquillity in Tripura, he alleged. Addressing the rally, Mr Sarkar smells BJP’s hand behind the repeated violence in various forms on the democratic forces and left supporters and sounded caution against saffron party. He warned IPFT supporters to restrain from ‘playing with fire’ and creating troubles in the state. Mr Sarkar urged people to remain alert and foil divisive plans of IPFT and said, “Evil plans by forces tending to divide the state will not be successful as peace loving people of the state will not tolerate violence and determined to defeat divisive forces in upcoming election and Tripura will set an example by establishing 8th left front government”. The violence perpetrated across seven locations allegedly by IPFT has left at least 150 GMP supporters injured, damaged and burnt down as many as 40 vehicles and several party offices of CPI(M) were ransacked in different parts of the state. The civil administration had to impose 144 of CrPC to cease tension and made deployment of paramilitary forces in Khowai, Jirania, Mohanpur and Jampuijala Sub-Divisions. The Chief Minister reviewed the situation and directed the administration to take appropriate steps to restore normalcy. “IPFT has hatched a deep rooted conspiracy to divide the state after people rejected their concept of Independent Tripura; IPFT has emerged with a demand for separate state for tribal people. The plot aims at breaking the unity of people of the state”, the chief minister pointed out. Referring to royal regime he said tribal and non-tribal lived in harmony even under tribal Kings. However, Mr Sarkar commented that tribal Kings did nothing for improvement of tribal communities in the state and alleged, “Tribal Kings were not interested in providing education to tribal people who were living in hills and remote areas but leftists’ tribal leaders spread the light of the education among the tribal communities.” Meanwhile, IPFT President N C Debbarma denied the allegation of violence labelled against the party and said, “IPFT has only resorted defensive action against the attacks and violence of CPI(M) and the way Chief Minister and CPI(M) leaders are unnecessarily blaming IPFT, it would not help them to maintain peace. They should investigate each of the incidents impartially before making any comment.” UNI