Former Tripura CM Manik Sarkar says police complaints cannot silence the opposition, accusing the BJP-led government of political intimidation and asserting that grassroots mobilisation is growing across Tripura and other parts of the country.
Former Tripura Chief Minister and senior Left leader Manik Sarkar on Friday strongly criticised the state government over police complaints filed against him, asserting that legal and administrative measures would not intimidate him or prevent the opposition from continuing its political activities.
Sarkar’s remarks came in response to three complaints reportedly lodged with the police over statements he allegedly made during a recent political rally. At the rally, he was reported to have said that the country and Tripura were moving towards a “militant movement.” The complaints have since become a point of political debate, with the former Chief Minister questioning the motivation behind the action.
Speaking to the media, Sarkar alleged that the complaints were filed with the support of the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and the state government. According to him, the use of police complaints against opposition leaders reflected what he described as the government’s political weakness rather than its strength.
Sarkar argued that attempts to pressure opposition leaders through police cases and administrative machinery would not succeed in stopping political activities. He maintained that his earlier remarks had a particular context and substance, which he alleged were being interpreted or presented differently for political purposes.
The veteran Left leader accused the government of attempting to intimidate the opposition by using its administrative authority. However, he made it clear that such measures would not prevent political parties and opposition groups from continuing their programmes and organisational activities.
“It is not possible to stop the opposition’s political movement. People will answer for it,” Sarkar said.
His comments come amid continued political exchanges between the opposition and the ruling establishment in Tripura. The complaints against him have added another dimension to the ongoing political confrontation, with Sarkar portraying the action as part of an effort to discourage dissent.
Sarkar further claimed that political mobilisation was gradually developing among ordinary people. He said individuals were increasingly organising themselves at the grassroots level and becoming involved in political activities. According to the former Chief Minister, such developments were not restricted to Tripura and could also be observed in different parts of the country.
The Left leader maintained that political movements could not be permanently restrained through police action or administrative pressure. He suggested that public participation and grassroots organisation would ultimately determine the direction of political developments.
Sarkar’s response also underlined his continued role in opposition politics after serving as Tripura’s Chief Minister for two decades. His remarks reflected the broader political disagreement between the Left-led opposition and the BJP-led government over issues concerning political expression, administration and opposition activities.
While the police complaints concern statements attributed to Sarkar at the recent rally, the former Chief Minister has rejected the suggestion that such action could halt his political engagement. Instead, he reiterated his position that opposition activities would continue and that people would ultimately respond through political mobilisation.
The controversy surrounding the complaints is therefore likely to remain part of the wider political discourse in Tripura, particularly as opposition parties seek to strengthen their grassroots presence and challenge the ruling establishment.
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Sarkar’s latest statement reaffirmed his determination to continue participating in opposition politics, while his allegations against the government have further intensified the political exchange surrounding the police complaints.
