Agartala, June 25: Tensions flared in Agartala on Wednesday as members of the BJP’s Janajati Morcha stormed the old MLA hostel in Radhanagar, demanding an apology and resignation from senior Congress leader and MLA Sudip Roy Barman over alleged derogatory remarks targeting the tribal community and the BJP.
Led by BJP tribal leader and state general secretary Bipin Debbarma, hundreds of protestors from Agartala and nearby areas broke open the iron gate of the hostel and entered the premises, raising slogans against Roy Barman, who resides there. The protest defied security deployment and resulted in property damage and a breach of security barriers.
The outrage stems from a comment Roy Barman allegedly made during a Congress tribal wing event in Ambassa on Tuesday. According to Debbarma, the Congress MLA said that “BJP leaders urinate on tribals,” a statement he called “unconstitutional, demeaning, and deeply insulting.” Debbarma demanded Roy Barman’s immediate resignation for attacking the dignity of indigenous people.
Senior police officials, including SP West Dr. Kiran Kumar, rushed to the spot and later claimed the situation was under control, despite the damage and disruption.
In response, Roy Barman accused BJP supporters of hooliganism and blamed the police for inaction. “Tripura Police is acting as a puppet of the ruling party,” he alleged.
Clarifying his remarks, Roy Barman said he was referring to a 2023 incident in Madhya Pradesh where a BJP leader was caught urinating on a tribal man. “I was exposing BJP’s systemic casteism and discriminatory mindset,” he said.
The incident has sparked political unrest in Tripura, placing tribal sentiments and political accountability at the center of a growing controversy.
