NEW DELHI, Apr 13
The constituents of the INDIA bloc in Tripura on Saturday took out padyatras at different places of the West district while political leaders urged the voters to cast their mandate against the BJP.
INDIA bloc leaders like veteran CPI(M) leader Pabitra Kar, former minister Manik Dey and the alliance’s candidate from the West Tripura seat and state Congress chief Ashish Kumar Saha joined the padyatra which passed through different places, including Jirania, Mandwai, Khumulwung and others.
Mandwai was one of the worst hit by the ethnic conflicts of 1980 when tribal and non-tribal communities had clashed against each other. The conflicts had allegedly led to hundreds of fatalities. The exact figure of the casualties in the riot still remains unconfirmed. Saha said, “We formed the INDIA alliance to fight against the ongoing misrule. We want to strengthen the democracy of the country. Our fight is against the anti-democratic system to regain democracy.
Our fight is against those who tried to make the Constitution extinct by disobeying it. We joined the fight to pay respect to the Constitution. The double-engine (BJP-led Centre and state) government failed to fulfil promises made to people in the last ten years. To fight against this, we appeal to you all to cast your vote in favour of the INDIA alliance.”
Kar said, “Unemployment and inflation still exist in the country and to fight against these, the CPI(M), Congress and other secular democratic and anti-BJP parties had come together to contest the last Assembly polls held in 2023.” He added, “A crisis has erupted in the country. (It is not sure if) the Constitution and democracy will exist. In Tripura, the INDIA Bloc, comprising a total of eight parties have joined the fight. We appeal to the people to cast their votes in favour of the sickle and hammer symbol (CPIM) in East Tripura constituency and for Ashish Kumar Saha’s hand symbol (Congress) in the West Tripura constituency by avoiding hindrances on polling day. The Election Commission has assured us to take initiatives to ensure all voters can give their mandate. I appeal to you to vote and save the Constitution and democracy.”
Manik Dey in his speech said, “This poll is important because Delhi (the NDA government at Centre) has huge power. The government in the Centre is an enemy of development.
It is looting the country and creating an environment of unrest.”
