Agartala, Nov 12 : Tripura Chief Minister Manik Saha on Thursday said the controversy over alleged remarks by Boxanagar MLA Tafajjal Hossain should be considered settled as the legislator had already apologised, adding that necessary steps had been taken to prevent a recurrence.
Speaking to reporters during the BJP’s door-to-door campaign ahead of the November 27 municipal elections, Saha said he had personally spoken to Hossain on Wednesday and advised him to exercise restraint while making public statements.
“I have seen that he has already apologised. Therefore, there is little scope for further controversy on the issue. The concerned legislator and his party will take whatever steps are necessary,” the chief minister said.
He stressed that public representatives must be cautious about their choice of words to avoid creating misunderstandings or hurting people’s sentiments.
Asked whether the matter had been brought to the attention of the Union Home Ministry, Saha said he was unaware of any such development. However, he maintained that the state government had taken necessary steps and held discussions with the stakeholders concerned.
The MLA’s alleged remarks had triggered criticism from opposition parties and tribal organisations, leading to political reactions across the state.
Meanwhile, the chief minister highlighted the BJP’s ongoing grassroots campaign ahead of the civic elections, saying he was personally participating in door-to-door outreach programmes to interact with residents and understand their concerns.
Saha said he was overseeing booth-level campaigning in Wards 16 and 17 of his Town Bardowali Assembly constituency.
“The BJP works among people throughout the year and not merely during elections. Public service is the party’s guiding principle,” he said.
Claiming that the BJP enjoyed considerable public support in Tripura, Saha attributed it to the government’s development initiatives and welfare programmes.
Taking a swipe at the opposition, the chief minister alleged that democratic rights had suffered and law-and-order conditions had deteriorated during previous regimes.
He urged voters not to allow what he described as the failures of earlier governments to recur, claiming that even younger voters were aware of the opposition’s record.
The municipal elections are scheduled for November 27, with political parties intensifying their campaigns across the state.
