Agartala, December 7:
Former Minister and Congress MLA Sudip Roy Barman on Sunday launched a sharp attack on the BJP-led government in Tripura, alleging that the state is now operating under an “undeclared fascist rule” where citizens have been deprived of their democratic rights.
Speaking in the presence of Tripura Pradesh Congress president Asish Kumar Saha and Youth Congress president Neel Kamal Saha, Roy Barman claimed that a scheduled block conference of the Congress party in the 6-Agartala constituency was prevented from taking place. According to him, several venues — including local schools, despite it being a holiday — refused permission under alleged directives from the BJP leadership. When the party decided to shift the programme to private land, the temporary structure set up for the meeting was reportedly vandalised, and decorators were threatened against supplying chairs, carpets or sound equipment.
The Congress MLA alleged that seeking police permission itself has become unsafe. “The moment we apply for permission, BJP goons get the information and attack Opposition meetings and supporters,” he said. He further claimed that numerous Congress and CPIM party offices have been vandalised or burnt since the BJP came to power.
Without naming Chief Minister Dr. Manik Saha directly, Roy Barman remarked, “I hope this incident reaches the ears of the peddler who boasts of good governance. Why is the ruling party allowed to use school premises for political events while the Opposition is denied the same right?”
He said that when he questioned the Director of School Education about the denial, he was advised to “speak to the top leadership or the Chief Minister,” despite the event being scheduled on a holiday.
Calling the incident a “massive attack on democracy,” Roy Barman accused the ruling party of using “fascist and economic might” to suppress political dissent. He warned that denying fundamental democratic rights such as holding peaceful meetings indicates a “dangerous situation” for the state.
“They may try to stop us, but conducting meetings is our democratic right,” he asserted, adding that repeated denial reflects a rising “fascist mentality” in Tripura.
The Congress leader, also a permanent invitee to the AICC, urged the state leadership to ensure such events do not become the new norm. He further alleged large-scale corruption in both the central and state BJP governments, accusing leaders of prioritising party expansion and personal enrichment by “looting people and national wealth.”
