Agartala, Sept 06: Several people were injured in clashes between two groups of ‘inactive’ CPI-M and ruling BJP at Dhanpur in Sonamura sub-division of Tripura on Monday.
A large group of CPI-M cadres strongly resisted the BJP activists when they tried to attack the convoy of Opposition Leader Manik Sarkar, who was on his way to Kathalia block for a party programme and submit 8-point charter of demands.
Sarkar, two other CPI-M leaders Sahid Chowdhury and Shyamal Chakraborty accompanied by around 1500 party cadres were going to Kathalia block to join the scheduled party programme.
When the convoy reached Dhanpur market, the constituency of the Leader of Opposition, a group of around 100 BJP workers blocked the road and started raising ‘Manik Sarkar Go Back’ slogan with black flags. They also raised demand for returning the Rose Valley deposits.
As the CPI-M cadres resisted the BJP workers, there was a clash between the two groups—one BJP worker was injured in the clash and the local party office of BJP was damaged.
In the meantime, sensing trouble, local police present at the spot asked the CPI-M leaders not to go ahead since the situation was not violent but the opposition workers then made a humane barricade and accompanied their leader- Manik Sarkar to Baspukur. At Baspukur, another group of BJP also created a similar barricade leading to a clash with the CPI-M workers.
One CPI-M supporter and four BJP activists were injured in the clash. Even police had to fire tear shell gas to disperse the mob. Finally, police brought the situation under control and Sarkar and his team reached the destination—Kathalia.
Meanwhile, such resistance from the opposition CPI-M was not seen since the party lost its power to BJP in 2018. The way the CPI-M responded today was a strong message on the party's return to action.
Later addressing a gathering near Kathalia block, the opposition leader congratulated all the people who joined the CPI-M programme on Monday.
“Those who have overcome several obstacles and made this programme successful are today's heroes. I congratulate all of you. There was a strong message before the entire state,” Sarkar said.
“We have to fight back. We have to resist. We can’t keep our heads down anymore,” Sarkar said while encouraging the party workers to protest in a bigger way in the days to come.
In the meantime, BJP Tripura in its official Facebook handle wrote that Manik Sarkar was the mastermind of political terror during 25-year-long Left rule.
In a similar way, Sarkar along with his team of goons on Monday attacked BJP Karyakartas, damaged bikes of pedestrians and damaged shops at Dhanpur.
According to police sources, an FIR was registered against several persons in connection with the political violence.
In the wake of CPI-M’s aggressive movement in Dhanpur on Monday, the state unit of BJP cautioned that the party was ready to respond in the same language the leftists understand.
Addressing a press conference at BJP state office, Minister Sushanta Chowdhury held Leader of Opposition Manik Sarkar responsible for the entire incident.
He said the party believes in democracy but if necessary, they are ready to give a response in the language the CPI-M understands.
“We believe in democracy not in violence. But, we are ready to respond to CPI-M in the language they understand. If they think BJP Karyakartas are weak, they are wrong,” Chowdhury cautioned.
He also announced that the BJP state unit would hold agitation at Kathalia market on September 8 next to protest the incident. He appealed to the BJP activists from across the state to join the protest programme.
Referring to Monday’s political clash, Chowdhury said at least twelve party workers were injured in the incident and an FIR was lodged.
BJP state spokesman Subrata Chakraborty was also present in the press conference.