Agartala, September 4: Members of the Tripura Youth Congress and National Students’ Union of India (NSUI) staged a protest in Agartala on Monday, demonstrating black flags against Tripura ARDD Minister Sudangshu Das.
The protest was in response to a deleated controversial Facebook post made by the Minister after the defacement of a Kali idol in Ranirbazar, West Tripura.
The incident, which occurred more than a week ago, had led to the burning of dozens of houses and vehicles belonging to the minority Muslim community.
The protesters, led by Tripura Youth Congress state president Neel Kamal Saha, accused Minister Das of attempting to incite communal disharmony between the majority Hindu and Muslim communities in the state.
They pointed out that the Minister’s Facebook post, which was later deleted, was perceived as provocative and could exacerbate existing tensions in the wake of the violence in Ranirbazar.
During the protest, which took place outside the Minister’s official residence, Neel Kamal Saha confronted Minister Das, who defended his post, claiming that it was not directed at any particular religious community.
He asserted that the post was meant to resonate with those who shared his faith in Hinduism.
However, the protesters expressed their concerns, arguing that at a time when communal violence had already erupted over the defacement of the Hindu goddess Kali, such a post from a Minister holding a constitutional position was irresponsible and could further destabilize the situation.
The Youth Congress and NSUI members voiced their fears that there is a growing trend of communal tensions being deliberately stoked in Tripura.
They cited recent incidents, including clashes between tribal and non-tribal communities in Gandatwisa and the Hindu-Muslim tensions in Ranirbazar, as examples of this dangerous trend.
As the protest escalated, police intervened and dispersed the demonstrators, preventing any further escalation of the situation.
The incident highlights the fragile communal situation in the state and the concerns over the role of political leaders in maintaining peace and harmony.
Earlier, Opposition Leader and CPIM state secretary Jitendra Choudhury, along with former Minister and Congress MLA Sudip Roy Barman, had criticized Minister Sudangshu Das for his controversial Facebook post.
Meanwhile, Chief Minister Manik Saha and TIPRA Motha founder Pradyot Kishore Debbarma condemned the recent violence in Ranirbazar, expressing concern that certain elements within the state are attempting to disrupt the peace and harmony in Tripura.
