The Congress Monday demanded that Tripura Scheduled Caste Welfare Minister Sudhangshu Das be sacked for his ‘controversial’ social media post on the recent defacing of Hindu idols in the state. The post purportedly criticising ‘secular politics’ was later deleted. “Twenty-four hours have passed but still no step has been taken by the government and the BJP against the minister… We demand that the chief minister sack Sudhangshu Das immediately… the DGP should also arrest him…” Veteran Congress leader Prabir Chakraborty said. He added that they would launch a movement if their demands were not met. Reading out the minister’s social media post, Chakraborty said the minister not only insulted the Hindus but also instigated them to take the law into their own hands. Incidentally, idols of Hindu deities were defaced at the Jirania subdivision in the West Tripura district last month. More recently, a temple was desecrated by unidentified miscreants at Bishalgarh in Sepahijala district. Both the opposition CPI(M) and the Congress have alleged that the ruling BJP was utilising the incidents for political gain. Meanwhile, reacting to the desecration of Hindu idols and temples, Chief Minister Manik Saha on Monday said, “I take action whenever such incidents come to my notice. The police reached the spot and we are also trying to gather information. We are tackling the situation, socially and politically, and we shall also do it in the future. The state is headed in the right direction… There is peace here and it is perhaps not liked by some. So, I request people… to refrain from such activities.” Prohibitory orders imposed at Jirania in the aftermath of the defacing of a Kali idol and subsequent attacks targeting homes of minority community members have been extended till September 5. A suo motu case was registered at Ranirbazar police station and five people were arrested.
