TPF holds massive protests seeking Pradyot’s coronation in ADC draws flak

In what seems to be an attempt to influence the political situation of the hills—the tribal-dominated pockets, some political outfits having less public presence seemed to have hatched a new ploy in Tripura.

In such an attempt, a political party known as TPF (Tripura People’s Front) staged a number of road blockades in seven separate areas of the state posing serious problems in the life of local commuters.

Though, the agitation did not last longer and ended by the team by the evening, it evoked serious criticism from almost all the major political parties of Tripura for its bad timing.

All the major parties BJP, CPIM and ruling indigenous party IPFT came down heavily on the protests and expressed that such kind of political stunt amid the Corona Virus pandemic should not be played out in pursuit of petty political gains.

Also read: Tripura: Blood donation venue triggers CPIM-BJP political clash

One of the self styled leader of the Tripura political party, while explaining about their protests, said, “The appointment of an administrator in the ADC after the elected tenure of the Left ruled council ended was a major eye wash and undemocratic. The state government should had called an all party meeting first to decide the future of the council as the elections could not take place due to the Covid 19 induced lockdown” .

Backing her point, the leader demanded to make Pradyot Kishore Debbarman as the chief of the ADC council in order to suffice the public sentiment.

“The demand of the indigenous people of Tripura is to see Pradyot Kishore Debbarman as the chief of the ADC. The government must consider our demands otherwise there will be intensified protests”, she threatened.

Meanwhile, the abrupt closure of the national highways in seven particular points had sent the entire police department into a rush and in every place, the department had been seen clueless regarding the agitation.

Police sources said, no prior permissions were sought from the department to stage such kind of protests. Police was informed by the locals after hundreds of people sit on demonstration in the national highways bringing the vehicular activities in an unexpected halt.

Sources in the police department also said that none of the agitators maintained social distancing norms or other restrictions put on place to prevent the spread of Covid 19. However, such irresponsible act of the police department raised many questions over the functioning of intelligence wings which was made to alert the department regarding any imminent tension.

On being asked about the Covid 19 situation in Tripura, the TPF leader said, for their rights they will fight even if there are bigger enemies standing ahead disregarding life risk.

However, the incident had prompted all the political parties to talk in the same tune and leaders from all the parties took a dig at the TPF for fuelling tension in the hills at a time when the entire state was fighting an invisible enemy.

“The constitution of India has no provision under which Pradyot Kishore Debbarman can be elevated to such a post. He holds no constitutional post and even has no links with the ADC affairs in the past. The way of agitations staged by the TPF clearly indicates their inability of understanding the constitution of India and also the common sense it requires to understand the federal structure”, BJP state spokesperson Nabendu Bhattacharjee pointed out.

Left Front Convener Bijan Dhar said, appointment of an administration through the Governor was a crisis management call in view of the emerging situations due to the Covid 19. “Since elections were not possible at this point of time, the Governor appointed an administrator to look after the ADC administration. The entire process was carried out following the constitution of India”.

The Left Front Convener also termed the TPF as a political opportunist which was trying to fancy its chances ahead of the ADC polls and that too using the name of some leader having no political identity right now. “The TPF is just using the opportunity to make their chances brighter in the ensuing polls” , Dhar alleged.

IPFT supremo NC Debbarma, on the other hand, said, “A political movement having very undemocratic demands can not be tolerated at this point of time and no one should take their demands seriously as they have endangered the life of many by not following the health restrictions”.

The tenure of the Left-led ADC council ended On May 17 last. The Governor appointed former Chief Secretary of the state GK Rao as the administrator of the ADC council, which seemed to have irked a number of indigenous political outfits. Pradyot Manikya meanwhile was not available for a comment.

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