A large group of activists of Tripura's ruling BJP stormed into the MLA Hostel in Agartala on Wednesday by breaking open its gate, demanding Congress legislator Sudip Roy Barman apologise and resign over his remarks that "BJP leaders urinate on tribals". "As an MLA, he should resign immediately for hurting the dignity of tribals," BJP tribal leader Bipin Debbarma told reporters. Tribal Affairs Minister Bikash Debbarma and BJP state president and Rajya Sabha MP Rajib Bhattacharjee also condemned Barman's remark, made in Ambassa on Tuesday. While Debbarma warned that the Congress leader should face legal action if he did not apologise, Bhattacharjee said the remark reflected the Opposition party's mindset on tribals. "Tribals in Tripura never got respect and dignity before the BJP came to power. The airport has been named after Maharaja Bir Bikram Kishore Manikya (last serving king of Tripura). We have got tribal ministers in Tripura, a tribal leader of Tripura (former deputy CM Jishnu Debbarma) was made the governor of Telangana. Nationally, a tribal person is serving as the President of India. What more respect can one give?" said the tribal affairs minister. Debbarma further said that Barman's comment hurt tribal sentiments. In Dhalai, Rajib Bhattacharjee accused Sudip Roy Barman of having clandestinely helped communists stay in power in exchange of favours during the long Left Front rule, and said that he had never worked for tribals. For his part, Sudip Roy Barman said, "I didn't manufacture any report but simply stated the fact that BJP karyakartas urinated on tribals in Madhya Pradesh. The reality is that the BJP hates Scheduled Castes, Scheduled Tribes, OBC, minorities etc. How else can someone urinate on another person?" The Congress leader was referring to an incident in Madhya Pradesh's Sidhi district where Pravesh Shukla, purportedly a BJP activist, urinated on a member of the Kol tribe last year. A massive security bandobast was made in front of the MLA hostel but protesters defied the barricades chanting slogans against Sudip Roy Barman. Kiran Kumar, Superintendent of Police, West Tripura, said the situation was brought under control.
