Pradyot accuses Tripura govt of withholding salaries of TTAADC staff

Tipra Motha Supremo Pradyot Kishore Debbarman on Tuesday alleged that salaries of employees of the Tripura Tribal Areas Autonomous District Council (TTAADC) had not been credited ahead of Holi and described the development as “moral corruption”.
In a social media livestream around 4 pm, Debbarman said that as of March 3, the salaries of TTAADC staff, including those serving on deputation from the state government, had not been deposited in their bank accounts.
“Today is March 03. I am speaking to the public at around 4 pm in the evening. The salaries haven’t been credited to the bank accounts of the staff of TTAADC. Even those who are serving in deputation from the state government also didn’t receive their salaries. We all know, the festival time is here. Tomorrow, the whole state will celebrate Holi and at this point in time, the salaries have not been released,” he said.
He questioned the delay in releasing funds meant for salaries and allowances and alleged that the file concerning the disbursal was pending with Tripura Tribal Welfare Minister Bikash Debbarma.
“This is moral corruption. I never expected such cheap politics. The file is lying in the office of Tribal Welfare Minister Bikash Debbarma,” Debbarman said.
Referring to his past political contest against the BJP when Biplab Kumar Deb was the Chief Minister, Debbarman said such steps were not taken earlier. “I have fought elections against the BJP earlier as well when Biplab Kumar Deb was the Chief Minister of the state. He never encouraged such sort of cheap politics. For political animosity why the public will suffer,” he said.
Debbarman also raised concerns over the conduct of elections in villages under the TTAADC, alleging attempts to delay the process. He said the Election Commission had sought to defer the polls but the Supreme Court had intervened and sought a response from the poll panel.
“I hope Chief Minister Dr Manik Saha is not aware of what has been happening. If there is any animosity against me, I should be targeted. This is unacceptable,” he added.