Tripura BJP MLA Tafajjal Hossain apologises over alleged derogatory remarks against the Tiprasa community, following criticism from Tipra Motha chief Pradyot Debbarma, CPI(M) leader Jitendra Chaudhury and a police complaint seeking legal action.
Tripura BJP MLA Tafajjal Hossain has publicly apologised to the Tiprasa community over his alleged derogatory remarks about their food habits and cultural identity, following strong political backlash and a police complaint seeking action against him.
The controversy erupted after a video allegedly showing the Boxanagar legislator making objectionable comments about the food habits of tribal people circulated on social media. His remarks triggered widespread criticism, with Tipra Motha Party (TMP) founder and supremo Pradyot Bikram Manikya Debbarma and CPI(M) state secretary and Leader of Opposition Jitendra Chaudhury demanding an apology and accountability.
Addressing a press conference on Tuesday, Hossain expressed regret over his comments and tendered an unconditional apology to members of the tribal community. He said he had never intended to hurt anyone through his words and sincerely regretted any statement that might have offended his tribal brothers and sisters.
Earlier, while responding to the criticism, the MLA had claimed that a portion of his speech delivered at Sonamura in Sepahijala district was circulated without its full context. He accused the CPI(M) of distorting his remarks as part of a politically motivated misinformation campaign. However, as criticism intensified, he eventually issued a public apology and appealed to everyone to maintain peace and communal harmony.
Reacting to the controversy, Pradyot Kishore Manikya Debbarma strongly defended the cultural identity and traditional food habits of indigenous communities. He maintained that nobody had the right to ridicule or dictate what tribal people should eat, emphasising that food practices were an integral part of their culture and traditions.
Debbarma urged the Tiprasa community not to remain silent when its dignity and identity were questioned. He also expressed hope that the BJP leadership would disapprove of the alleged remarks and publicly uphold respect for indigenous communities.
Meanwhile, Jitendra Chaudhury condemned the alleged comments, describing them as deeply objectionable and contrary to Tripura’s longstanding tradition of communal harmony and mutual respect. He said elected representatives, having taken an oath under the Constitution, must exercise responsibility and maintain dignity in their public statements.
The CPI(M) leader urged Chief Minister Manik Saha and the state government to take appropriate action against the MLA, asserting that political affiliation should not protect anyone from accountability.
Adding a legal dimension to the controversy, the Tribal Youth Federation (TYF), the youth wing of the Left-affiliated Ganamukti Parishad, lodged a complaint at West Agartala Police Station on November 11, seeking registration of an FIR against Hossain.
In the complaint, Koushik Roy Debbarma alleged that the MLA made the objectionable statement during an election campaign at Tamsabari under Sonamura subdivision. The complainant described the alleged remarks as derogatory and dehumanising, claiming they could promote hatred and disturb communal harmony.
The complaint sought an investigation under Sections 196 and 352 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023, and requested the police to examine the applicability of the Scheduled Castes and the Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act, 1989. It also called for the preservation of relevant video and audio recordings and the identification of witnesses.
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The controversy has emerged at a politically significant time, particularly after the BJP and Tipra Motha Party joined hands to form the Executive Committee of the Tripura Tribal Areas Autonomous District Council (TTAADC), despite contesting against each other in the April elections.
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Chief Minister Manik Saha and Pradyot Debbarma had recently participated in the expansion of the TTAADC Executive Committee and the swearing-in ceremony, highlighting their political engagement as alliance partners.
With Hossain’s apology, the immediate controversy has entered a new phase. However, the police complaint and demands for accountability have kept tribal identity, cultural respect and communal harmony at the centre of Tripura’s political debate ahead of the urban local body elections.
