‘Direct attacks on democracy’: CPI(M) hits out at BJP, TMC over ‘violence’ in West Bengal, Tripura

Tension flared outside the TMC state headquarters on Tuesday after a group of BJP supporters removed TMC flags, flex banners, and other campaign material. Party sources said the action was staged as a “token protest” against the assault on BJP MP Khagen Murmu and party MLA Shankar Ghosh in West Bengal, the previous day. In response to the incident, a six-member TMC delegation, comprising MPs and a minister who were visiting the state on Wednesday, was allegedly left stranded at the airport for three hours. The team accused the BJP of intimidating the cab drivers against ferrying them to the city and that Tripura was “reeling under a reign of terror under the BJP”.

Chaudhury said vandalism and attacks on Communist party offices continue to this day, citing a series of damages allegedly inflicted on the CPI(M) party offices in different parts of Tripura since the BJP came to power in 2018.

“The BJP has damaged party offices of other parties or properties of other individuals whom they don’t like. They have been doing these since they came to power, including bulldozing different party offices. Shortly before Durga Puja, assailants destroyed furniture of five party offices in different areas during the night and destroyed the corridors and doors of some party offices,” he said.

Referring to the “vandalism” in front of the Trinamool Congress state headquarters, Chaudhury said the incident occurred barely “less than half a km” from the Chief Minister’s residence.

“They took out a procession and vandalised that party office (of TMC). It was touted as a reply to the attack on BJP MP and MLAs in Bengal. Many (violent) incidents are indeed occurring at the behest of the ruling party in West Bengal, and these are condemnable. Those incidents should be opposed, but it has to be done democratically, and not by unleashing vandalism on the party office. They should be opposed in the presence of the police. Both incidents are attacks on democracy and are equally condemnable,” the CPI(M) leader stated.

On the incident where the TMC delegation from Bengal was stranded, he said, “The MPs and MLAs were on a visit to Tripura; it is the moral responsibility of the host state government to ensure security of their presence. Instead, the ruling party hooligans shooed away their vehicles and forbade other motor vehicle operators from providing service to the TMC leaders. Airports are among the highest secure locations. They had to sit on the ground for almost three hours. It is a shame for the state, and it is a new addition to the travesty of dignity here”.

Jitendra Chaudhury stated that the CPI(M) is opposed to the attack on BJP parliamentarians and legislators in West Bengal. “This is undemocratic and fascist. I hope the state government will provide a conducive environment for the visitors to freely conduct their activities,” he said.

TMC delegation meets DGP Anurag Dhyankar

The Trinamool Congress delegation from West Bengal, comprising Pratima Mondal, Saayoni Ghosh, Birbaha Hansda, Kunal Ghosh, Sudip Raha, and Sushmita Dev, staged a sit-in protest at the Maharaja Bir Bikram (MBB) Airport, alleging political pressure on cab drivers, hampering their free movement in the state.

The team visited their state headquarters, which allegedly came under attack from BJP activists, met Director General of Police Anurag Dhyankar, and demanded the arrest of those involved in the incident of vandalism at TMC state headquarters, and information on the latest status of old cases of attacks on TMC activists in the state.

The TMC leaders have alleged that the BJP is resorting to violent attacks to scuttle the voice of the Opposition and is continuing its “politics of violence,” which the Bengal-based party purportedly experienced in the 2021 Tripura civic polls and 2023 state Assembly elections.

West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee has also expressed displeasure at the turn of events in Tripura and warned that she would come to Tripura herself if needed. “I’ll go if needed. Let’s see who has courage!” she said.

BJP denies vandalising TMC state headquarters

The BJP has denied allegations of vandalism in the TMC Tripura state headquarters, but said party activists pulled out flags, flex banners, and some campaign materials in front of the party office and threw them away in protest against incidents of attacks on BJP MLAs Khagen Murmu and Shankar Ghosh at Jalpaiguri in West Bengal.

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