Drug trafficking is BJP’s political project in Tripura, claims LoP

Agartala: Tripura Leader of the Opposition and CPI-M Politburo member Jitendra Chaudhury on Saturday claimed that drug trafficking in Tripura has flourished as a political project of the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party to spoil the future of the state.

“The BJP knows it can never return to power if elections are free and fair. That is why it has invested heavily in anti-social elements involved in drug trafficking to destroy the future of the state. In recent times, we have seen that nine out of ten people arrested under NDPS charges either have photographs with top BJP leaders such as Chief Minister Manik Saha, BJP state president Rajib Bhattacharjee, Biplab Kumar Deb, or other members of the state cabinet. They act as assets for the ruling party,” the CPI-M leader claimed.

According to him, not even two percent of the currently elected MLAs would have been able to win had the polls been free and fair.

“In the last seven and a half years, only a section of people has earned enormous wealth. They amassed so much money that even their neighbours are bewildered. Ask people in every locality, and you will find someone whose wealth has increased exorbitantly despite not being involved in any high-paying trade,” he alleged.

Accusing the Chief Minister and top BJP leaders of providing political protection to criminals, he said, “People are getting ready to teach the BJP a lesson. In a democracy, the public always has the last word, and we are waiting for the day to witness the historic fall of the BJP in Tripura, which is inevitable and rapidly approaching.”

The CPI-M leader was speaking at the state conference of the All India Democratic Women’s Association.