The BJP on Friday brought out rallies in Tripura in protest against the “CPM and Trinamul friendship” and the alleged efforts by the two parties to create instability in the northeastern state.
The day the BJP showed its strength, around 30 Congress and BJP members joined the Trinamul Congress at a hotel in Agartala in the presence of Bengal minister Bratya Basu and MP Santanu Sen.
BJP spokesperson Nabendu Bhattacharya told The Telegraph that the party had to stage the rallies to counter the “misleading and disrespectful narrative” being fanned by visiting Trinamul leaders against the state government and chief minister Biplab Deb.
“CPM-backed Trinamul people have said Tripura people have chosen the wrong party to lead the state. How can they say that? Are people of Tripura ignorant? Do they mean to say that? This is grossly misleading by a party (Trinamul) which is backed by the CPM. We won the polls convincingly and in a democratic manner to lead the state with our ally,” Bhattacharya said.
The BJP and the IPFT won the 2018 elections to end the 25-year reign of the Left Front.
“They (Trinamul leaders) have been using unparliamentary words like chor and goonda.... The rally was to highlight their misleading and disrespectful narrative to create instability,” Bhattacharya said.
Friday’s protest rallies followed a police crackdown on Trinamul leaders. Few days ago, the police registered a case against six leaders, including national general secretary Abhishek Banerjee, education minister Bratya Basu, MP Dola Sen and spokesperson Kunal Ghosh, for allegedly obstructing public servants from discharging their duty.
A purported video from inside the Khowai police station showed scenes of heated exchange between Abhishek and some police officers.
They were booked for their alleged misbehaviour with police officers inside the Khowai police station on Sunday, the day the police arrested 14 Trinamul activists for violating Covid restrictions. They have secured bail.
Accusing the administration of partisan conduct, minister Basu told media persons that Trinamul did not get permission to hold the joining rally but the ruling BJP was allowed to take out a huge procession despite Covid restrictions.
Trinamul Rajya Sabha member Santanu Sen said that the arrests of the Trinamul workers in Tripura were illegal.
“Irrespective of what they (BJP) do, we will continue with our political activities,” Sen said after the joining programme held around 4.30 pm.
Bengal-based Trinamul leaders have made several visits to Tripura since mid-July, assessing the party’s strength and the measures required to tone it up. A new state committee is expected by September.