BJP not ready to hear 'voice of opposition', says ex-CM of Tripura Manik Sarkar

Agartala: Two days after meeting the Tripura Governor to apprise about frequent attacks on opposition parties, CPIM veteran and former Chief Minister Manik Sarkar led a protest rally in capital Agartala on Wednesday.

Among others, deputy leader of opposition Badal Chowdhury, sitting MLA Tapan Chakraborty, Saheed Chowdhury, Sudhan Das and other leaders joined the rally workers walked on the streets donning placards and later held a street corner in Orient Chowmuhani.

“The CPI(M)-led Left Front government never received any support from neither the United Progressive Alliance (UPA) nor National Democratic Alliance (NDA) government when we were in power. However, we have fought hard and worked for the development of Tripura,” Sarkar said.

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Taking a dig at the ruling BJP, Sarkar said that the party is not ready to listen to the opposition.

“We were compelled to call upon the Tripura governor on January 18 due to the frequent attack over the opposition parties. We have apprised him about the present scenario prevailing in the state. The Governor has expressed his shock and displeasure over the incidents taking place,” Sarkar said.

When CPIM was in power, we gave the opposition a chance to speak both in and outside the assembly. Now, there is no scope for the opposition to speak, he added.

“Under the BJP regime, democracy is under severe threat. The government has failed in fulfilling its promises made before elections. They have started walking in the opposite direction taking one after another anti-people decision,” Sarkar added.

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Sarkar, also a politburo member, said that the attack on doctors, paramedics, nurses, journalists, and advocates is increasing, but police and the government are not taking any steps.

“The police have not arrested a single person in the state involved behind the attack over the incidents that have taken place in the last 34 months of the BJP-IPFT government. The police have turned into a puppet under the influence of the political leaders,” Sarkar opined.