Tripura LoP slams Pradyot's political stand, slams govt

CPI(M) Tripura secretary and Leader of Opposition Jitendra Chaudhury on Friday questioned the political stand of Tipra Motha Party founder Pradyot Kishore Debbarman and claimed that the differences projected between the BJP and its ally in Tripura were aimed at creating a perception among the people. 

Reacting to Debbarman's recent statement that Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union Home Minister Amit Shah were willing to resolve the problems faced by indigenous people in Tripura, Chaudhury said the Tipra Motha leader's position appeared contradictory.

According to Chaudhury, Debbarman frequently criticises the BJP-led state government on matters concerning the Tripura Tribal Areas Autonomous District Council (TTAADC) and Sixth Schedule areas while maintaining cordial relations with the BJP leadership at the Centre.

"He takes one position in Tripura and another in Delhi. This has been his political approach from the beginning," Chaudhury alleged.

The CPI(M) leader further claimed that the apparent disagreements between the BJP and Tipra Motha in the state were not genuine and accused both parties of creating an impression of political confrontation before the public.

Chaudhury also took exception to Debbarman's alleged claim that no political party other than the BJP had worked for the welfare of tribal communities. He argued that important measures relating to tribal rights remained pending under the present dispensation.

He alleged that the implementation of the Forest Rights Act had not progressed satisfactorily and claimed that the proposed 125th Constitutional Amendment Bill, which sought to strengthen provisions relating to Sixth Schedule areas, had not moved forward.

Referring to the blockade called by former militants demanding implementation of commitments made under peace accords and rehabilitation packages, Chaudhury attributed the unrest to what he described as the government's failure to address grievances in a timely manner.

He said previous governments had also dealt with demands raised by surrendered militants but claimed that rehabilitation concerns were addressed through negotiated packages and administrative measures.

According to him, the present government focused more on symbolic events than on resolving substantive issues relating to rehabilitation.

Chaudhury alleged that assurances made at the time of surrender and subsequent agreements had not been fully implemented, resulting in dissatisfaction among sections of former militants.

On the issue of re-employment of retired officials, Chaudhury said governments occasionally retain experienced officers in exceptional situations when specialised expertise is required.

However, he questioned the continued engagement of certain retired bureaucrats in key administrative positions over several years.

The CPI(M) leader said the matter warranted greater transparency, particularly when concerns and allegations regarding administrative functioning had been reported in sections of the media.

"If such issues are not addressed in time, it could affect the integrity of the administration," he said.

Chaudhury also expressed concern over reported delays in the payment of salaries and wages to various categories of employees and workers.

He claimed that around 13,000 employees, including engineers and staff associated with the Rural Development Department, along with approximately 10,000 Anganwadi workers, were not receiving payments regularly.

The opposition leader said workers engaged under the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA) had allegedly not received wages for several months.

He described the situation as serious, stating that MGNREGA workers had played an important role in strengthening the rural economy and implementing development programmes in the state.

Chaudhury further alleged that Anganwadi workers, construction workers and beneficiaries of various social pension schemes were also facing delays in receiving payments and urged the government to address the issue on priority.

Commenting on the recent legal developments concerning in-service teachers recruited before 2009, Chaudhury expressed concern over the requirement that they qualify the Teacher Eligibility Test (TET) within the prescribed timeframe.

He said many of the affected teachers were nearing retirement and argued that the implications of the order should be examined carefully in view of the state's existing shortage of teachers.

According to Chaudhury, Tripura currently faces a shortage of around 12,000 teachers and several schools are functioning with only one teacher.

He cautioned that large-scale implementation of the requirement without adequate safeguards could adversely affect the functioning of schools.

The CPI(M) leader urged the state government to consult the Centre and explore legal options, including filing a review petition, while considering the concerns of the affected teachers on humanitarian grounds.