Before New Govt Takes Charge In Tripura, Violence & Vandalism Reported From The State

Two days after the Bharatiya Janata Party’s landslide victory in Tripura, the north-east state has been rocked by violence allegedly by supporters of the BJP before the new government is even formed.

The BJP’s victory in Tripura ended the CPI (M)’s 25 years of rule and how.

“India crowd pulls down Tripura Lenin statue after Communist defeat” – reads the title of a BBC article.

BJP supporters are accused by CPM for dismantling the statue of the communist icon with an excavator machine at Belonia. The five-feet-tall fiberglass statue was installed only a few months back with Rs 3 lakh of taxpayers’ money.

“After pulling down the statue, ‘Bharat Mata Ki Jai’ slogan was raised,” Tripura CPM district secretary Tapas Datta told PTI, reported The Economic Times.

The driver of the JCB excavator machine was arrested and later released on bail, said Superintendent of Police of South Tripura district.

Violence continued today with the CPM taking to social media to highlight the BJP-IPFT’s alleged role in coordinating the attacks.

Visuals of CPI (M) offices vandalised in different locations in #Tripura. pic.twitter.com/YUxpzRTksl

— ANI (@ANI) March 5, 2018

All over India CPIM units and well wishers in social movements have been expressing their concern and also solidarity over these attacks.#StandByTripuraLeft pic.twitter.com/aFrsbYXD8i

— CPI (M) (@cpimspeak) March 6, 2018

Hundreds of cadre are unable to go to their homes because of violence and threats of violence by the BJP-IPFT.#StandByTripuraLeft pic.twitter.com/sqnCzNk8vK

— CPI (M) (@cpimspeak) March 6, 2018

Attacks in #Tripura are now being coordinated in a centralized way by BJP-IPFT leadership. Left got 45% vote. BJP-IPFT wants to use their newly acquired power to smash that support base thru physical attacks, torching of offices, intimidation & bullying.#StandByTripuraLeft pic.twitter.com/dcXq1l2ow0

— CPI (M) (@cpimspeak) March 6, 2018

On Sunday, the CPM had also alleged that 200 of its workers were attacked and many offices vandalised. The BJP, too, has claimed that 49 of its workers have been attacked since the party won the elections on Saturday.

The violence escalated to a level where Section 144 (unlawful assembly) of the CrPC had to be imposed in affected areas.

BJP’s response to the violence

BJP Rajya Sabha leader Subramanian Swamy, instead of condemning the attacks, called Lenin “a sort of a terrorist” and questioned the need of his statue in India.

#Lenin to videshi hai, ek parakar se antankwadi hai, aise vyakti ka humare desh mein statue? Woh statue Communist party ke headquarters ke andar rakh sakte hain aur pooja karen :Subramanian Swamy pic.twitter.com/DUDVFApSCT

— ANI (@ANI) March 6, 2018

Ram Madhav, the man behind BJP’s popularity in north-east and the party’s national general secretary, tweeted support for the vandalism. He later deleted the tweet.

Tripura governor Tathagata Roy also defended the actions of the mob.

What one democratically elected government can do another democratically elected government can undo. And vice versa https://t.co/Og8S1wjrJs

— Tathagata Roy (@tathagata2) March 5, 2018

Minister of State for Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises Giriraj Singh blamed the Left’s years of “oppression” for the bringing down of the statue.

“The Bharatiya Janata Party or its ideology does not propagate violence but the Left does… So many people were oppressed by the Left. Some of them must have this feeling of revenge,” he said to PTI.

Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh contacted the DGP in Tripura and asked him to make all efforts to maintain law and order till the government is formed.