Agartala, January 4 : Former Tripura Chief Minister and CPIM politburo member Manik Sarkar has lauded the state government’s initiatives to bring permanent peace by ending decades-old insurgency through the surrender of armed militants. However, he expressed deep concern over the alleged rise in communal violence in the state.
Speaking to reporters on the sidelines of a blood donation camp in Agartala, Sarkar, who served as Chief Minister for four consecutive terms, acknowledged that similar efforts were made during his tenure to curb insurgency and prevent militants from crossing the border to create disturbances in Tripura.
Reacting to Chief Minister Manik Saha’s recent remarks that certain groups are attempting to fuel communal tensions in the state, Sarkar urged the government to take strict legal action against those responsible for such incidents.
“The government is well aware of the people behind organizing communal violence. Instead of just speaking about it, the Chief Minister must act decisively to stop such activities,” Sarkar said.
He warned that divisive attempts could distract people from real issues by exploiting religious and community differences for political gains.
Sarkar also suggested that the government engage in dialogue with individuals involved in communal tensions to dissuade them from such activities and encourage cooperation to maintain peace.
While praising the government’s achievements in combating insurgency, Sarkar emphasized that maintaining social harmony is equally important to ensure long-lasting peace and development in the state.