Chit fund: Congress organises sit in protest in Tripura

Main opposition Congress organised squatting stir on Wednesday against left front government’s alleged failure to safeguard interest of people from the chit fund companies. The party also demanded adequate relief to the recent cyclone hit people and compensation to political activists affected by post assembly election violence.

Several senior leaders of the party however evaded the six hour long protest held outside Congress headquarters in Agartala. Leaders and supporters close to the official faction of PCC mainly attended.

“This is the beginning. We will go for a massive agitation to press the demands”, leaders who spoke at the venue warned. They complained that many leaders and cadres of ruling CPI(M) are linked with the chit fund companies – an allegation which disrupted assembly sessions over past two days.

CPI(M) deserters like former assembly speaker Jitendra Sarkar and former state president of DYFI Prabir Chakraborty – now in Congress – spoke at length against the ‘left front misrule’ at the sit-in-protest. Others including former PCC President Gopal Roy lashed out at the ruling left front.

Congress demanded compensation to opposition workers and supporters who were subject to political vengeance after February 14 assembly elections. “Without instruction from the top in the government, targeted attacks would not have been possible”, state youth Congress president Sushanta Choudhury said.

The party also demanded relief and rehabilitation to those hit by recent cyclones. It least 11 people were killed and hundreds suffered losses in incessant rains and cyclones in Tripura.