Agartala, July 7: Leftist students and youth organizations SFI and DYFI staged a protest rally in the Badharghat area of Agartala on Sunday, demanding jobs, better education, health facilities, and action against drugs.
Mayukh Biswas, General Secretary of SFI who led the protest criticized the “double engine government,” accusing it of bringing “double danger” to the public, especially the youth.
He called for the resignation of Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan, citing alleged education scams involving the leaking of question papers for various competitive examinations, including NEET and UGC NET and dismantling of NTA.
The protesters alleged that over 70 paper leaks have occurred during Prime Minister Modi’s tenure, attributing this to the proliferation of study centers owned by BJP leaders, where students are charged exorbitant fees.
They also claimed that unemployment has increased significantly under Modi’s regime and that the situation is dire in Tripura under the double engine government.
Concerns were raised about the closure of schools in Tripura since the BJP came to power.
They noted that 161 schools were closed during Biplab Kumar Deb’s tenure as Chief Minister, and eight more were recently closed under Manik Saha. This, they argued, not only affects employment opportunities but also hinders access to education.
The protesters highlighted a severe teacher shortage and asserted that many youths are forced to migrate due to the lack of employment opportunities. They claimed Tripura has one of the highest unemployment rates in the country because the government is against recruitment and is not filling a large number of vacancies in various government departments.
They alleged that the government’s inaction against drug traffickers has led to a surge in addiction, resulting in numerous deaths among students due to AIDS and HIV infection. The protesters accused the government of conspiring to keep the youth illiterate, unemployed, and addicted.
The protestors voiced these concerns, emphasizing the need for immediate action to address these pressing issues.
