Opposition demands equal financial aid for all victims of political violence since 2018

The Leader of Opposition (LoP), Jitendra Chaudhury on Wednesday demanded financial aid for all families affected by political violence since 2018, regardless of party affiliation.

This followed Chief Minister Dr Manik Saha's announcement of aid for 258 families amounting to Rs 64.50 lakh, mainly BJP supporters, affected by recent post-poll violence after Autonomous District (ADC) election results.

Chaudhury and Tripura Pradesh Congress president Ashish Kumar Saha on Wednesday criticized this "selective aid," advocating for assistance to all victims.

Several houses of BJP workers were vandalised by Tipra Motha Party (TMP) supporters, prompting BJP leaders and workers to take shelter in relief camps in Agartala and other safer places. A sizable number of BJP party offices were allegedly set on fire by TMP after the TTAADC election results were announced on April 17 last.

The TMP won the Tripura Tribal Areas Autonomous District Council (TTAADC) elections by securing 24 out of the 28 seats, while the BJP won four seats.

While, Chaudhury on Wednesday speaking with media persons said that they are not against the government extending financial support to any individual or families affected by any disaster or violence, but the way the Chief Minister announced financial assistance of Rs 64.50 lakh to 258 families after the tribal council election results has raised many questions.

He claimed hundreds of CPI (M) party offices were attacked, torched or dismantled, many party activists were killed, and thousands of party leaders and workers have become victims of violence during the BJP’s eight-year rule in the state.

“We had submitted a memorandum to the Chief Minister seeking financial aid for those poor families who suffered due to violence, but not a penny has been given till now,” he said.

“We appealed to the Chief Minister to consider assisting all people who had been victims of violence, be it pre-poll or post-poll, because the government is for the people. If you don’t extend aid to all victims of political violence, it will be a one-sided move and send the wrong message to society,” the Leader of Opposition said. He said that since 2018, the thousands of opposition supporters across Tripura are still out of their homes and became jobless. He also said that hundreds of CPI(M) party offices were attacked and vandalised many times, but till today the state government did not take any steps to stop the poll related violence in Tripura.

Reacting sharply to the move, Tripura Pradesh Congress president Ashish Kumar Saha on Wednesday also questioned the “selective aid move” for the victims of political violence.

“We heard the Chief Minister announced financial aid to the tune of Rs 64.50 lakh to 258 BJP families who became victims of post-poll violence from the Chief Minister’s Relief Fund. The Chief Minister’s Relief Fund is not meant for helping only BJP families, and the Congress demands compensation for all those who had been victims of political violence, or else it will be an unethical move,” said Saha.