Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Monday accused the TIPRA (Tipraha Indigenous Peoples Regional Alliance) led by royal scion Pradyot Kishore Manikya of having a ‘secret deal’ with the CPI(M) in the Tripura Assembly elections. He alleged that the regional party was trying to eat into the BJP’s votes to pave the return of ‘misrule of the Communists’.
Mr. Shah addressed election rallies at Santirbazar in south Tripura and Khowai in west Tripura. He later held a road show in support of the party’s State President Rajiv Bhattacharjee, who is contesting from the Banamalipur constituency.
“You have full knowledge of the Left and Congress alliance for the election. But I want to let you know that the TIPRA and the CPI(M) also struck a deal though under the table”, the Home Minister alleged in his speech at the rallies.
“So you have to vote for the BJP if you want to see the continuation of development initiatives. Both Chief Minister Manik Saha and his predecessor Biplab Kumar Deb worked hard for development, welfare of all sections of people and restoration of peace in the State”, Mr. Shah appealed to the voters.
Comment | A ‘royal’ challenge for BJP in Tripura
He said that voting for the Congress and the TIPRA meant doing so for the CPI(M). It also meant return of anarchy, misrule, non-performance, corruption and instability, he added.
Mr. Shah listed welfare schemes which were launched by Prime Minister Narendra Modi for development, peace and progress of the northeast India and its people. He said people of all sections, including the indigenous communities, hugely benefited from the schemes and work of the Central and State governments.
Infiltration from Bangladesh
The Union Home Minister was the first among the campaigners to raise the issue of infiltration from Bangladesh in the run-up to the elections to the 60-member Assembly in Tripura. He said the infiltration of foreigners changed the demographic character of northeast India and only ‘BJP can prevent infiltration to protect rights of the indigenous communities of the region’.
Responding to the Home Minister’s statement, the TIPRA, which strongly advocates repeal of the CAA and enforcement of the NRC in Tripura, said the party and all regional groups saw the infiltration problem as a ‘non-communal issue’.
“We are against infiltration from across the border of people irrespective of faiths — Hindu, Muslim and others. If the Centre is serious why not introduce NRC in our State”, TIPRA spokesperson Antony Debbarma told newsmen.
