Former minister and senior Left leader Manik Dey on Thursday criticized the ruling BJP government in Tripura, alleging widespread corruption in panchayats across the state. He urged voters to support the Left Front in the upcoming panchayat elections to ensure clean governance.
Addressing a press conference in Agartala, Dey highlighted the Left Front’s call for the state election commission’s intervention to ensure peaceful voting in the panchayat elections. He also demanded the online submission of nomination papers to facilitate a fair electoral process.
Shifting focus to broader issues, Dey discussed the recent CITU (Centre of Indian Trade Unions) secretariat meeting held in Delhi on June 17-18. He stated that CITU has called for the working class across India to unite and prepare for a nationwide Demands Day on July 10.
Dey expressed concerns about the continuation of neoliberal policies under the new government, citing the notification of labor codes, reduced penalties for employer defaults on EPF dues, and ongoing privatization through the National Monetization Pipeline (NMP) as evidence of the government’s commitment to these policies.
He emphasized that CITU has resolved to launch an immediate campaign to build strong grassroots resistance against these policies.
“We shall press for several demands during the Demands Day program on July 10, which includes repealing the labor codes, ensuring a minimum wage of Rs 26,000 per month for all workers, ensuring job security for contract workers, and withdrawing notifications that reduce penalties for employers defaulting on EPF, EPS, and EDLI dues,” Dey told reporters.
He further informed that the CITU state committee has planned a series of movements starting from July 1 to highlight the pressing issues faced by the people of Tripura and to seek the government’s intervention in addressing these issues for the welfare of the people.
