Agartala, Nov 11 : Leader of the Opposition and CPI(M) state secretary Jitendra Chaudhury on Wednesday demanded legal action against BJP MLA Tofajjal Hossain over his alleged derogatory remarks against the tribal community, saying the law should be applied equally irrespective of an individual’s political position.
Reacting to a video clip circulating on social media, Chaudhury alleged that the BJP legislator had made offensive comments targeting the CPI(M) and TIPRA Motha, with language that allegedly hurt the sentiments of indigenous people.
He said such remarks were unbecoming of an elected representative who had taken an oath to uphold the Constitution.
“Nobody should be allowed to insult any community. The law must take its course irrespective of the political affiliation or position of the person involved,” the CPI(M) leader said.
Tripura has a long tradition of peaceful coexistence and mutual respect among people belonging to different communities, languages and faiths, including tribal and non-tribal populations, he said.
Any attempt to demean a particular community could undermine social harmony and disturb the state’s tradition of communal understanding, Chaudhury added.
Drawing a parallel with a recent racial harassment case involving Delhi-based content creator Amir Shokeen, he said law enforcement agencies had taken action in that matter even though the accused subsequently issued an apology.
He questioned why a different standard should apply in the case involving the BJP legislator if the allegations of offensive and discriminatory remarks were established.
The Opposition leader cautioned that failure to act in such cases could send a wrong message to society and adversely affect relations between different communities, besides hurting the aspirations of future generations.
He also appealed to BJP leaders to publicly distance themselves from the alleged remarks and oppose statements that could hurt the sentiments of tribal people.
Safeguarding the dignity and honour of indigenous communities should be a collective responsibility transcending political differences, he said.
Chaudhury urged Chief Minister and Home Minister Manik Saha to intervene and ensure that the allegations were properly examined.
He demanded that appropriate legal action be initiated against the BJP MLA if any wrongdoing was established, stressing that constitutional values and the dignity of all communities must be protected.
