The Congress party has intensified its criticism of the BJP-led government in Tripura, accusing its leaders of prioritizing personal financial gains over the state’s development. During a press conference held at Congress Bhavan in Agartala on Saturday, Saptagiri Sankar Ulaka, the All India Congress Committee’s Tripura in-charge and Member of Parliament, launched a scathing attack on the state government. He was accompanied by senior Congress leaders, including MLAs Sudip Roy Barman, Gopal Roy, Birajit Sinha, and state Congress president Ashish Kumar Saha.
Allegations of Corruption and Misgovernance
In his address, Ulaka accused BJP leaders in Tripura of amassing wealth for themselves while neglecting the state’s development. He claimed that unemployment has worsened, infrastructure projects have stalled, and the law and order situation has deteriorated significantly under the BJP’s rule. According to him, these issues have led to a sharp rise in crimes across the state.
Ulaka alleged that despite frequent talks about development, BJP leaders were only interested in increasing their own bank balances. He accused them of being directly involved in serious crimes such as murders, rapes, land mafia dealings, and drug trafficking, while the administration turned a blind eye. The Congress MP claimed that the police were only arresting small-time drug offenders while shielding the masterminds who, he alleged, had connections with the ruling party.
Tender Manipulation and Stalled Development Projects
The Congress leader further accused the BJP government of manipulating contract tenders to exclude local contractors, ensuring that major projects went to out-of-state firms. According to Ulaka, this practice has allowed BJP leaders to earn substantial commissions, leaving crucial development projects in limbo. He highlighted that road repairs, healthcare services, education, and drinking water supply projects have either slowed down or come to a complete halt due to this alleged corruption.
Concerns Over Law and Order
Ulaka expressed grave concern over the state’s law and order situation, describing it as a complete collapse. He cited an increase in crimes as a direct consequence of the administration’s failure to act impartially. The Congress leader warned that if the current state of affairs continued, it would lead to further deterioration of governance in Tripura.
Rahul Gandhi’s Upcoming Visit to Tripura
During the press conference, Ulaka announced that All India Congress president Rahul Gandhi would soon visit Tripura to assess the situation firsthand. While he did not disclose the exact date of the visit, he emphasized that the Congress would escalate its movements both at the state and national levels to “free the people of Tripura from BJP’s misrule.”
Criticism of BJP’s Development Claims
Responding to the BJP’s criticism of opposition leaders for questioning the government’s achievements, Congress leader Sudip Roy Barman cited global developmental indexes to counter the BJP’s narrative of progress. He argued that India’s low rankings in key areas contradicted the BJP’s claims of development. Barman accused the BJP of responding to legitimate concerns with counter-allegations rather than addressing the issues directly.
Focus on Real Issues vs. Divisive Politics
Barman further criticized Prime Minister Narendra Modi for being overly focused on the past instead of looking towards the future. He contrasted this with Rahul Gandhi’s approach, which he described as forward-looking. Barman claimed that mainstream media rarely discusses real developmental issues, focusing instead on debates about historical figures and religious topics. He accused the BJP of engaging in divisive politics based on religion and caste to distract from governance failures.
Promise of Strong Movements Against BJP
In conclusion, the Congress leaders emphasized that they would continue to mobilize public opinion against the BJP’s alleged misrule. They assured that a series of strong movements would be launched to expose corruption and administrative failures in Tripura, aiming to restore democracy and good governance in the state.
The press conference highlighted a sharp escalation in the political battle between the Congress and the BJP in Tripura, setting the stage for an intense confrontation in the coming months.
