Agartala, January 11: In a strong show of dissent, the tribal wing of the Opposition CPIM-led Raj Bhavan Abhiyan in Agartala on Saturday spotlighted pressing issues of unemployment, tribal rights violations, and alleged governance failures under the BJP-led government in Tripura.
The protest, organized in conjunction with the Adivasi Adhikar Rashtriya Manch, saw participation from key leaders, including former Chief Minister and CPIM politburo member Manik Sarkar and CPIM state secretary and Opposition Leader Jitendra Chaudhary.
The protest rally began at Vivekananda Maidan Stadium, with participants raising slogans against the government as they marched along the VIP Road toward the Raj Bhavan. However, their advance was halted by a large deployment of security forces stationed near the Circuit House area.
Highlighting national concerns, the Adivasi Adhikar Rashtriya Manch revealed that out of 44 lakh sanctioned posts in central government departments, 14 lakh posts remain vacant for over a decade. Among the filled posts, only 7.5 percent were allocated under reservation quotas, with tribals holding a mere 3.2 percent of the jobs.
Despite an RTI revelation, the central government has allegedly refrained from disclosing official data regarding central government job quotas said Jitendra Chaudhary adding : “This systematic neglect underscores the government’s disregard for the constitutional rights of tribal communities.”
He further accused the BJP of perpetuating policies that undermine tribal welfare, both at the state and national levels.
Chaudhary lambasted the BJP-IPFT and TIPRA Motha alliance for failing to address key tribal concerns in Tripura.
“For more than four years, Village Committee elections have not been held, and BJP’s pre-2018 election promise to include Kokborok in the 8th Schedule of the Constitution remains unfulfilled,” he stated.
The senior tribal CPIM leader accused TIPRA Motha of betraying tribal aspirations by covertly supporting the BJP, enabling the continuation of what he termed “anti-tribal policies.”
Chaudhary pledged that the fight for tribal rights would persist until the government either aligns with public demands or is ousted.
Adding to Chaudhary, Manik Sarkar launched a scathing critique of the BJP, accusing the ruling party of suppressing the Opposition’s voice in the Assembly and ignoring critical issues like unemployment and vacant government posts.
Sarkar alleged that the BJP’s failure to deliver on pre-election promises, including anually 200 MGNREGA workdays at the rate of ₹340 per day, has left rural families in dire straits.
“The BJP’s governance is marred by corruption, with payments delayed for months and rural workers forced to pay commissions to BJP leaders,” Sarkar alleged.
He highlighted the BJP’s declining vote share from 51 percent in 2018 to 39 percent in 2023, and of which a significant portion of the votes to electoral malpractices and TIPRA Motha’s covert support.
Sarkar emphasized the Left Front’s achievements, including securing landmark rights like MGNREGA and the Forest Rights Act under the UPA government. In contrast, he accused the BJP of legislating policies favoring corporates, such as the now-repealed farm laws.
The three-hour road blockade in Agartala’s Circuit House area witnessed robust tribal participation, signaling growing public frustration ahead of the crucial Village Committee elections likely to be declared by the end of this month.
CPIM leaders vowed to intensify their struggle against the BJP-led government, rallying for a governance model that prioritizes employment, tribal welfare, and democratic rights.
The protest underscored the Opposition’s readiness to challenge the BJP-IPFT and TIPRA Motha coalition in the upcoming elections, with a clear message that Tripura’s people demand accountability and action.
