Agartala: Former Chief Minister and CPI(M) Politburo member Manik Sarkar on Monday launched a sharp attack on the BJP-led government, accusing it of failing to address pressing public issues and instead pursuing what he described as “politics of division”.

Addressing Left Front supporters during the Jail Bharo agitation, Sarkar alleged that ordinary people were facing mounting economic hardship amid rising living costs, unemployment and livelihood-related challenges.

He claimed that despite several pressing problems confronting people in Tripura and across the country, the government had failed to take effective measures to provide relief.

Sarkar accused the ruling party of attempting to create divisions among different sections of society rather than concentrating on issues directly affecting people’s lives and livelihoods. He said the government should focus its attention on addressing economic distress and providing opportunities to those struggling to earn a livelihood.

The former Chief Minister said the CPI(M) had placed an 11-point charter of demands at the centre of the agitation. The demands, he said, covered issues including workers’ rights, farmers’ welfare, employment opportunities, price rise and other matters concerning ordinary citizens.

Sarkar alleged that the government had so far failed to respond positively to the demands raised by the Left Front, prompting the opposition to intensify its movement.

He also criticised the role of the police during Monday’s agitation, alleging that the administration was being used to obstruct the democratic protest.

According to Sarkar, instead of putting up barricades and detaining protesters, the authorities could have engaged with the demonstrators and assured them that their demands would be examined.

“The government’s reliance on police action to block the movement makes it clear that it has no interest in addressing the people’s burning problems,” Sarkar alleged.

The veteran CPI(M) leader maintained that democratic protests would continue as long as the demands of the people remained unresolved.

He said the Jail Bharo programme was intended to highlight issues affecting workers, farmers, unemployed youths and other sections of society and to put pressure on the government to respond.

Sarkar asserted that the CPI(M) and the Left Front would continue their movement in defence of people’s rights and public interest until the government took meaningful steps to address the demands raised by them.