Tipra Motha leader criticizes Tripura law and order, challenges BJP on home department

Agartala: Tipra Motha Party leader and Forest Minister Animesh Debbarma on Friday issued a strong critique of the state’s law and order management, openly challenging the BJP to allow a Tipra Motha MLA to take charge of the home department.

He claimed that his party could restore law and order within three months if entrusted with the responsibility.

Tipra Motha, which holds ministerial positions, is a junior partner in the BJP-led coalition government in Tripura.

Debbarma made the remarks shortly after visiting his party’s office, which had been vandalised by unidentified miscreants.

Expressing concern over the situation, he said the recent incidents demonstrated a worrying decline in administrative control.

He clarified that he was not staking a personal claim to the post of Home Minister but emphasised that the party was prepared to assume greater responsibility “for the betterment of all.”

The comments are being viewed as a direct challenge to Chief Minister Manik Saha, who currently holds the home portfolio.

The statement carried an implied criticism that the government had been ineffective in preventing political violence in recent days.

Debbarma also accused the police of failing to act when the Tipra Motha office was attacked. He said he had been informed that, despite being present at the spot, police personnel did not attempt to stop the miscreants.

He alleged that workers affiliated with other political parties appeared to be immune from police action, while Tipra Motha supporters were continuously targeted.

He said the sequence of events over the past few days clearly indicated that Tipra Motha did not initiate the violence and had instead been attacked first.

Addressing questions on the stability of the alliance, Debbarma said Tipra Motha remained committed to the coalition and respected its leadership, including Pradyot Kishore Debbarma.

However, he said respecting the alliance did not mean staying silent in the face of repeated provocations and baseless accusations.

He stated that his party was being attacked and then unfairly blamed, a situation he described as “absurd and illogical.” He added that a time would come when the party would place all facts before the public.

Debbarma was accompanied during the inspection by MLAs Biswajit Kalai and Swapna Debbarma.

Chief Minister Manik Saha also visited Khumulwng earlier in the day, where tension had reportedly persisted for the past few days.