Protest outside Jitendra Chaudhary, Sudip Roy Barman’s Agartala residences for criticising Minister Sudhangshu Das’s ‘idol desecration’ post

Reacting to the protest, Congress MLA Roy Barman later said it was a ploy to prevent him from attending the ongoing Assembly session

Speaking to reporters, an agitator outside MLA quarters near the Buddhamandir area of Agartala said, “We are followers of the Sanatan Dharma… Jitendra Chaudhary and Sudip Roy Barman had made undesirable remarks about Sanatan Dharma… If anyone tries to hurt our religious sentiments, we shall not remain silent.” (File)

Several people, claiming to be followers of the Sanatan Dharma, on Friday held protests outside the Agartala residences of Leader of Opposition in Tripura Assembly Jitendra Chaudhary and Congress MLA Sudip Roy Barman for criticising Scheduled Caste Welfare Minister Sudhangshu Das’s now-deleted post on the recent desecration of idols of Hindu deities in different parts of the state.

The Opposition also raised the issue in the Tripura Assembly on Friday and described the protests as an attempt to prevent Chaudhary and Roy Barman from participating in the ongoing Monsoon Session.

Speaking to reporters outside the MLA quarters near the Buddhamandir area of Agartala, a protester said, “We are followers of the Sanatan Dharma… Jitendra Chaudhary and Sudip Roy Barman had made undesirable remarks about Sanatan Dharma… If anyone tries to hurt our religious sentiments, we shall not remain silent.”

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Reacting to the protest, Roy Barman later said that it was a ploy to prevent him from attending the ongoing Assembly session. “This is another pre-planned drama… I am a Hindu myself. I’m proud to be a Hindu but people of other religions and communities have their rights under the Constitution as well. This is the greatness of our Constitution. But they don’t agree to that,” he added.

On Wednesday, Das’s social media post issue received traction after former minister and veteran Congress MLA Birajit Sinha proposed to discuss it in the Assembly.

He said, “Minister Sudhangshu Das has made a statement on social media that can disrupt peace and solidarity in the state. A responsible minister making such a statement… It is a very sensitive statement given by a minister. It has to be withdrawn and the minister has to apologise for it in the House.”

Roy Barman, too, had demanded that Das formally withdraw his comments and seek an apology in the Assembly.

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However, treasury bench members seemed divided in their opinion about Das’s statement. While Tourism and Transport Minister Sushanta Chowdhury said Das deleted his controversial post, suggesting that he ‘repented’ for his action, several other BJP legislators hailed him for his stand on the issue of desecration of temples and idols.

Das, who had deleted the post soon after posting it, was also seen justifying his comments.