Trinamul Rajya Sabha MP Sushmita Dev, in a letter to the Tripura DGP Amitabh Ranjan, on Tuesday alleged that motorcycles with Uttar Pradesh registration numbers are being “purchased” by the ruling BJP and “brought” to the state and she thinks these bikes “may well be misused in the coming days” as the Assembly polls are round the corner.
Dev has based her apprehension on the state’s “past record” of political violence. “In the past also, the notorious bike bahinis have created havoc in Tripura attacking Opposition parties to intimidate them,” Dev wrote in the letter.
“In fact, Trinamul Congress had to move the court to ask that the law and order is maintained during the election and otherwise. I am enclosing some photographs of the motorcycles that I think have arrived in Tripura. Please verify the same,” Dev’s letter said, requesting the DGP to investigate the matter and ensure peace.
On June 7, the Opposition CPM staged a road blockade against the attacks carried out allegedly by the BJP-backed biker gangs on Left supporters during campaigning for the June 23 bypolls to four Assembly seats.
Pointing out that the Opposition leaders and workers are being “continuously” attacked by the BJP, Dev’s letter further stated that it was “unfortunate” that the law and order situation in the state has been “reflected” in the 2020-21 NCRB report as a “state with the highest number of cases of political violence”.
When asked about the number of bikes allegedly purchased by the BJP, Dev told The Telegraph. “Around 100 bikes. I don’t have the details. Therefore, I have written to the DGP to investigate. I have not received any response till now,” she said.
Reacting to Dev’s letter, Tripura Congress general secretary and spokesman Prasanta Bhattacharjee said they were aware of 300 motorcycles being brought to Tripura by the BJP from Uttar Pradesh.
“The bikes bear UP registration numbers. We have brought this illegal import of motorcycles to the notice of our High Command. We strongly condemn the move and we apprehend these motorbikes will be misused... it will be used for the purpose of political violence... against the Congress party in the upcoming Assembly polls,” Bhattacharjee said.
The BJP, however, dismissed the allegations and wanted to know if there was a bar on buying vehicles from Uttar Pradesh. Tripura BJP general secretary Papia Datta told this newspaper that they are happy to know that Trinamul which has left Bengal in “fear” and which has “looted” Bengal, is scared of a few bikes in Tripura.
“We don’t know about the bikes or where they got this information but we can say that this is being alleged to gain mileage because Trinamul had nothing and has nothing in Tripura. We want to know whether there is a bar on buying vehicles from other states. Every day I see vehicles with UP and Tamil Nadu registration,” Datta said.
Trinamul had been trying to rebuild the party in Tripura to emerge as an alternative to the BJP in the 2023 polls.
Datta also said Trinamul is a “sinking ship” in Bengal where it is in power.
“They are scared of a few bikes but they should also know about our organisational strength in Tripura. We have over 8 lakh dedicated members, of which there are 42 panna pramukhs. It is good they keep remembering us from time to time but they should look at what is happening in Bengal where people are living in absolute fear,” she said.
