Agartala, February 8:
The Democratic Youth Federation of India (DYFI) and the Tribal Youth Federation (TYF) on Sunday organized a massive protest rally in Agartala, alleging a sharp rise in substance abuse among youths, increasing HIV-AIDS infections, mounting unemployment and the erosion of democratic rights in Tripura since the BJP assumed power in 2018.
Hundreds of youths took part in the procession, which began from the Vidyasagar statue near Drop Gate and culminated at Ujjayanta Palace, raising slogans against the BJP-led government and accusing it of failing to safeguard the future of the state’s younger generation.
Speaking to reporters, DYFI Tripura state president Palash Bhowmik claimed that the socio-economic situation in the state has deteriorated alarmingly over the past few years.
He said Tripura, once considered a frontrunner in education and human development, is now witnessing one of the highest rates of drug abuse in the country.
“A time was there when Tripura was known for its educational achievements. Today, the state is becoming infamous for drug addiction. This is a matter of shame for all of us,” Bhowmik said.
He further alleged that urban centres including Agartala and several sub-divisional towns have reported a worrying spike in HIV-AIDS infections, which he attributed to the growing drug menace.
“The government’s failure to control drugs and addiction is pushing our youths towards a dangerous future. This is not just a political issue but a social challenge. We must save the state from this crisis,” he said, appealing to citizens to join their movement.
The DYFI leader accused the BJP government of “promoting an environment” where drugs, gambling, corruption and undemocratic practices are flourishing while employment opportunities and educational prospects are steadily shrinking.
“What we are noticing since the change of regime in 2018 is that youths are being guided towards darkness. Democratic rights are being curtailed, jobs are scarce and addiction is spreading. Tripura is being turned into a breeding ground for drugs,” he alleged.
As part of their statewide campaign titled “Save the Generation,” the DYFI and TYF said they have planned a series of programmes and agitations to mobilize public opinion against what they termed as anti-youth policies of the government.
Sunday’s rally marked the second phase of the campaign, with leaders warning of intensified protests in the coming days if concrete steps are not taken to address the issues affecting the state’s youth.
