Tripura Congress demands Tribal Welfare Minister’s removal over corruption allegations

AGARTALA: The Tripura Pradesh Congress Committee (TPCC) on Thursday submitted a formal request to Governor Indrasena Reddy Nallu, urging the immediate removal of Tribal Welfare Minister Bikas Debbarma for his alleged corrupt practices.

The Congress party has called for a thorough investigation into allegations of corruption, including accusations of providing false information in an affidavit submitted to the Election Commission of India (ECI).

The six-member Congress delegation, led by party president Asish Kumar Saha, included prominent leaders such as MLA Gopal Chandra Roy, former TPCC president Pijush Kanti Biswas, Chairman of Adivasi Congress Sabda Kumar Jamatia, former MLA Asok Debbarma, and Adivasi Congress advisor Monmohan Reang.

The group met with the Governor at Raj Bhavan and submitted a detailed memorandum outlining their concerns.

In the memorandum, Congress MLA and Congress Working Committee (CWC) member Sudip Roy Barman raised suspicions regarding the handling of a Rs 1,400 crore World Bank-funded project aimed at the socioeconomic development of tribal communities.

According to Barman, instead of being implemented directly through the Tribal Welfare Department, a separate entity named TRESP was created to oversee the project, raising concerns about financial transparency.

During a recent Assembly session, Barman implied that Minister Debbarma had misused his position to accumulate significant personal wealth within just over a year in office.

The Congress memorandum lists several assets allegedly acquired by the minister, including a 3-bedroom apartment in New Delhi’s Mahavir Enclave, an under-construction house in Lambucherra near Agartala, a petrol pump registered under his son's name, and property near the Baramura foothills in Khowai district, where significant construction is reportedly underway.

The Congress delegation emphasized that in the affidavit Minister Debbarma submitted to the Election Commission during the last election, he declared assets worth only Rs 56 lakh.

The affidavit also stated that he had taken loans amounting to Rs 8.67 lakh and listed his spouse as a housewife. The Congress leaders questioned how the minister was able to accumulate such significant assets in just 1.5 years after assuming office.

In a press conference on September 14, 2024, Minister Debbarma reportedly admitted to owning property in Delhi and having ongoing construction projects in Lambucherra, Nandanagar, and Teliamura.

However, the Congress memorandum alleges that these assets were not disclosed in his election affidavit, constituting a violation of electoral rules.

The Tripura Congress has demanded the dismissal of Minister Debbarma from his cabinet position and the revocation of his MLA status by the Election Commission.

They have called for an immediate investigation into the matter to ensure transparency and accountability within the state’s governance.