Agartala, October 21, 2022 : Tripura’s leader of opposition and Communist Party of India (Marxist) Politburo member Manik Sarkar on Friday has appealed to all secular forces to unite for ousting Bharatiya Janata Party from power in the assembly election slated to be held in February next year.

In a bid to show strength at Swami Vivekananda Maidan (Astabal) here in Agartala city, CPI(M) on Friday noon organized a massive rally as per pre-scheduled programme.

Addressing the gathering, Sarkar said that the people of tribal to non-tribal, religious communities, etc. in Tripura had struggled a lot in paving a path for reaching a desired goal. But the 55-month old BJP-led government had destroyed the state and taken it to the edge of the crematorium, he alleged.

Taking a jibe on ruling BJP, he said “In these 55 months of misrule across Tripura, the government had affected the fundamental thoughts of common people, their rights are oppressed, coup on media houses, mined the right to vote, etc. the ruling party and government has adopted a rule of fascism, tyranny, dictatorial and monogamous terror throughout the state. We have to unite to save Tripura from this.”

“The CPI(M) appealed to all the anti-BJP political parties to unite together and oust this saffron party from power in the forthcoming assembly election. During this collaboration of various anti-BJP political parties, intervention in their own ideologies will not be done. At the present prevailing situation, this most urgent decision is the need of the hour and common people have a significant role in achieving this desired goal”, said Sarkar.

Citing the burning issues during the rule of BJP-led government in Tripura, CPIM Politburo member said “Where is the job? The commitments made by the saffron party before coming to power are being cremated. Till date, lakhs of youths would have been employed if their pre-poll promises have been executed. However, the present government is reluctant to ponder on the rising unemployment scenario across the state. Seeing all these, if still, common people especially youths step on the trap of BJP in the ensuing assembly election, they will be cheated again”.

He squarely urged the youths not to step on the temptation created by the ruling BJP in the state.

“Before forming the government, BJP had lured the terminated 10,323 teachers in solving their problem. Everyone is well aware about the individuals who are the main architects behind the downfall of 10,323 teachers. The blazing instance of these sacked teachers won’t be solved till the time, existing government is not ousted from power. Apart from them, thousands of employees are left to be promoted to permanent and regularised positions while the government has declared a war against the unemployed youths of the state”, Sarkar told the gathering.

Leader of opposition also urged the people who have come here from far-flung areas of the state to join this public meeting of CPI(M) to create awareness among the people who failed to reach and make them understand regarding the necessity in getting rid of this existing government once and for all.

“During the regime of the previous Left Front government in Tripura, Dearness Allowances (DAs) to the government employees were given for two times every year and 10 times DAs in five years tenure. But now, the present BJP-led government failed to implement the seventh central pay commission (7th CPC) which was their pre-poll promise. Rather the existing government gave only two times DAs during their five-year tenure”, he also added.

Castigating the BJP-led government over transfer of employees, Sarkar also alleged that the government is transferring employees of different groups every now and then which reflects their negative attitude. “The ruling party leaders are collecting bribes from common masses for transferring as well as for stopping transfers. Aiming to topple the party from power, everyone has to pledge together and work in that direction,” he alleged.

Speaking at the public-meeting, Secretary General of the CPI(M) Sitaram Yechury squarely lambasted the role of BJP-led government at the centre and state as well. These saffron party-led governments are ruining the lives of common masses by escalating the prices of petrol, diesel, kerosene, etc. as well as imposing high taxes while on the other hand, introducing various schemes and providing money with the collected funds. “The Prime Minister Narendra Modi-led government is looting the public money, if this is not stopped, the country and its people will be destroyed which is not far away”, he alleged.

Tripura’s CPIM secretary and former MP Jitendra Choudhury slammed the incumbent Chief Minister Dr Manik Saha for creating a record of crimes during his short tenure of holding the constitutional post. Challenging the Chief Minister, Choudhury asked him to release white paper within a week’s span regarding where the government jobs are? Why are the youths left in a hanging position?

However, CPI(M) leaders on the ground as well as on dais alleged that the ruling BJP leaders have threatened Bus Owners Associations in various districts of Tripura not transporting people to Agartala city in order to spoil the public-meeting. But, a good number of people from all over the state travelled to Agartala since last evening through railways.