Tripura Chief Minister Manik Saha accuses the CPI-M of importing a culture of violence, arson and terrorism into the state following fresh attacks on BJP workers in Khumulwng. He vows firm police action and urges citizens to reject “communist mentality.”
Tripura Chief Minister Dr. Manik Saha on Friday launched a strong attack on the Communist Party of India-Marxist (CPI-M), alleging that a culture of violence, arson, and terrorism in the state had been historically “imported” from the Left. His remarks came a day after BJP workers were targeted during violent clashes allegedly caused by workers of the BJP’s alliance partner, the Tipra Motha Party (TMP), in the headquarters of the Tripura Tribal Areas Autonomous District Council (TTAADC) at Khumulwng.
CM Saha, who earlier served as the state BJP President, visited the houses of affected BJP workers and interacted with the families who faced attacks on Thursday. Expressing concern and anger over the violent incidents, he reiterated that the Bharatiya Janata Party rejected any form of politics driven by intimidation or terrorism.
Speaking to reporters after inspecting damaged homes and interacting with injured workers, the Chief Minister drew parallels between Tripura and other states where the Left had been in power for decades. “Wherever the communists ruled, be it Tripura, West Bengal or Kerala, people have witnessed the traces of their ruling style—dominated by threats, suppression, and violence,” he said.
He noted that while the Left has lost power in both Tripura and West Bengal, except for Kerala, remnants of its political culture continue to influence various parties and individuals. “Their culture still remains in many parties. The BJP and our government always believe in working for the people. The kind of violence they do, such as arson and terrorism, has been acquired from the CPI-M. We do not accept this type of politics under any circumstance,” he said sternly.
As the Home Minister of the state, CM Saha assured that all perpetrators of the Khumulwng violence would face legal consequences. “The law will do its job. Action will be taken against all those involved. There is still time for everyone to give up such behaviour. But if they do not, legal measures will follow,” he warned, making it clear that the government would not tolerate repeated provocations.
The Chief Minister also cited similar patterns of political violence in West Bengal, drawing attention to long-standing allegations of brutality associated with the Left’s rule in that state. He dismissed the need to mention Kerala at length, adding that “there is no point in talking about Kerala,” implying the persistence of the Left’s ideology there.
In a poignant account of the violence, CM Saha described the condition of one of the families he visited. “A woman was brutally tortured inside her house. Their valuables were looted, jewellery and cash were snatched, and even household items like the refrigerator were destroyed. This kind of brutality cannot be accepted in a democratic society,” he said.
He further recalled previous incidents in the region, including the demolition and torching of a BJP party office, stressing that such acts cannot be justified or ignored. “Even before this incident, a party office was set on fire. We cannot allow this. Whatever further action is needed will definitely be taken,” he stated.
Interestingly, CM Saha acknowledged that recent rounds of discussions with the TMP leadership—including his two closed-door meetings with TMP Supremo Pradyot Bikram Manikya Debbarma—had helped reduce tensions between the two allies. However, he emphasized that Thursday’s incident was “undesirable, unacceptable, and completely against the spirit of democratic cooperation.”
During the visit, CM Saha was accompanied by BJP State General Secretary Bipin Debbarma, local mandal presidents, and senior party leaders, who collectively assured the affected families of full support.
The Chief Minister once again appealed to the people of the state to move away from what he termed a “communist mentality” and embrace peace, development, and democratic values. “Many parties, many places, and many individuals still retain this mentality. I urge people to rise above it. Nothing can be forced on the people—they will not accept it. And we will not allow such violence to continue,” he concluded.
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