Agartala, December 7:
Former Minister and Congress MLA Sudip Roy Barman on Sunday launched a scathing attack on the BJP-led government in Tripura, alleging that the state is witnessing an “undeclared fascist rule” where citizens have been stripped of their democratic rights.
Roy Barman in presence of Tripura Pradesh Congress president Asish Kumar Saha and Youth Congress president Neel Kamal Saha claimed that a scheduled block conference of the Congress party in the 6-Agartala constituency could not be held after multiple venues, including local schools — despite it being a holiday — allegedly refused permission under “instructions from the BJP leadership.” When the party attempted to shift the event to private land, the temporary structure erected for the meeting was allegedly vandalised and decorators were threatened against providing chairs, carpets, or sound systems.
The Congress MLA, who represents the constituency, alleged that applying for police permission itself has become unsafe. “The moment we apply for permission, BJP goons get the information and attack the meetings of Opposition parties and their supporters,” he said, adding that several Opposition – Congress and CPIM offices have been vandalised or torched since the BJP came to power.
Without directly naming Chief Minister Dr. Manik Saha, Roy Barman remarked, “I hope this incident comes to the notice of the peddler who boasts about good governance in Tripura. Why is the ruling party granted school premises for political meetings while the Opposition is denied the same right?”
He also said that when he questioned the Director of School Education about the denial of permission, he was advised to “speak to the top leadership or the Chief Minister.” The Congress leader argued that since the meeting was planned on a holiday, there was no valid reason for refusal.
Calling the incident a “massive attack on democracy,” Roy Barman accused the ruling party of operating through “fascist and economic might.” He warned that if democratic rights such as holding peaceful political meetings are taken away, it signals a “dangerous situation” for the state.
“They may try to stop us, but holding meetings is our democratic right,” he said. “When such rights are consistently denied, it clearly reflects the fascist attitude taking root in Tripura.”
The Congress leader, also a permanent invitee to the AICC, urged the state’s top leadership to ensure that such incidents do not become a “tradition” in Tripura.
Roy Barman also alleged that massive corruption in BJP-led government in the center and as well as in the state as the leaders are busy working towards increasing the party and personal wealth by looting people and the national wealth.
