Tripura: The Communist Party of India (Marxist) on Wednesday condemned the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and Trinamool Congress (TMC) for incidents of violence in West Bengal and Tripura following vandalism outside the TMC state headquarters in Agartala on Tuesday.
In a video message, CPI(M) politburo member and Tripura Opposition Leader Jitendra Chaudhury said clashes between the TMC and BJP in West Bengal and Tripura constitute “direct attacks on democracy.”
Tension erupted outside the TMC state headquarters after a group of BJP supporters removed TMC flags, flex banners, and other campaign materials, which party sources described as a “token protest” against the assault on BJP MP Khagen Murmu and party MLA Shankar Ghosh in West Bengal the previous day. In response, a six-member TMC delegation visiting Tripura on Wednesday alleged they were stranded at the airport for three hours, accusing the BJP of pressuring cab drivers not to transport them to the city. The TMC claimed that Tripura was “reeling under a reign of terror under the BJP.”
Chaudhury highlighted ongoing vandalism against CPI(M) offices in Tripura, alleging that BJP activists have damaged party offices and private property since coming to power in 2018. “The BJP has damaged party offices of other parties or properties of individuals they oppose, including bulldozing party offices. Just before Durga Puja, assailants destroyed furniture in five party offices and damaged corridors and doors of others,” he said.
Addressing the vandalism outside the TMC state headquarters, Chaudhury said the incident occurred barely half a kilometre from the Chief Minister’s residence. He condemned both the TMC and BJP for engaging in violence and stressed that such disputes should be addressed democratically and with police presence, calling both incidents attacks on democracy.
On the incident involving the stranded TMC delegation, Chaudhury said, “The MPs and MLAs were on a visit to Tripura; it is the moral responsibility of the host state government to ensure their security. Instead, ruling party hooligans shooed away their vehicles and forbade other drivers from providing service. Airports are among the highest security locations. They had to sit on the ground for almost three hours. It is a shame for the state and adds to the travesty of dignity here.”
Chaudhury also condemned attacks on BJP parliamentarians and legislators in West Bengal, calling them “undemocratic and fascist,” and urged the state government to provide a safe environment for visitors.
Meanwhile, the TMC delegation, including Pratima Mondal, Saayoni Ghosh, Birbaha Hansda, Kunal Ghosh, Sudip Raha, and Sushmita Dev, staged a sit-in protest at Maharaja Bir Bikram (MBB) Airport, alleging political pressure on cab drivers restricting their movement. They visited the TMC state headquarters, met Tripura DGP Anurag Dhyankar, and demanded the arrest of those responsible for the vandalism, as well as updates on previous cases of attacks on TMC activists in the state.
The TMC alleged that the BJP continues to use violent tactics to suppress opposition voices, citing similar experiences during the 2021 Tripura civic polls and the 2023 state Assembly elections.
West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee also expressed concern over the events in Tripura, warning she would personally visit the state if necessary. “I’ll go if needed. Let’s see who has courage!” she said.
The BJP denied allegations of vandalising the TMC Tripura headquarters, stating that its activists only removed flags, flex banners, and campaign materials in protest against attacks on BJP MLAs Khagen Murmu and Shankar Ghosh in Jalpaiguri, West Bengal.