-Swati Deb in Agartala-
In general a refrain about BJP’s rise in Tripura—a known Communist citadel—suggests that the indiscriminate politics of nepotism and corruption played by the CPI-M led Left Front has led many political activists and supporters to rest their faith in the BJP.
The 25 years of the Left rule saw the state experience a number of scams and frauds—like the Rose Valley Chit Fund scam, gross law and order problems wherein women continue to get molested and raped. There were problems like exploitation of workers and underpayment of the state government servants as also the absence of developmental works and even problems with regard to drinking water, especially in tribal stronghold areas.
But a visit to a tiny hamlet at Marachara’s tribal-stronghold ‘Deb Barma Para’ under the Surma Assembly segment suggests there were a few who always ‘questioned’ the Marxists’ commitment to Indian nationhood and the Indian Communist leaders’ policy towards China in 1962.
“Why the Communists turn
die-hard China fans? I always voted against the CPI-M. I had joined Army in 1963-64 just immediately after the 1962 Sino-India conflict. It was a national duty. The communists betrayed my trust in 1962. The Left approach to Indian politics in 1962 cannot be forgiven….we are nationalists,” says retired Subedar Chandrakant Deb Barma, a 1971 War Hero during the creation of Bangladesh in 1971.
He maintains that the Communists’ policy in 1962-63 suggested that India should adopt a laid-back approach and turn a laggard nation. “How could we tolerate that?”
At the ripe age of 79, he says, “Thanks to the Narendra Modi government; India is changing now. India will regain its days of glory.” As a former soldier, Deb Barma is more than cautious and thus avoids talking about contemporary politics—including the on-going election scene.
But without ambiguity, he remains firm about his opposition to communists. This by itself is no small thing as his brother, nephews and many others in the sleepy hamlet on Kailashahar-Kamalpur highway under Surma reserved SC assembly segment are die-hard Marxist supporters.
But the former uniformed personnel who served with Army’s Signal corps Electronics and Mechanical Engineers (EME) talks proudly about India’s diplomatic offensive vis-a-vis the 1971 War.
“The Communists will not understand my nationality and my commitment to Indian nationhood,” he says and hastens to add quickly, “Prime Minister Narendra Modi is showing the right determination and the right kind of approach”.
He says it is not merely the nationalist fervour of the BJP that is making him applaud the saffron party and Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
He lauds the Modi government’s “firm and assertive” policy on China. “A nation can earn respect only when it is self-respecting, strong and assertive about certain key issues, the Modi government is walking the right way”.
He also says that the BJP-led dispensation has done the right thing in implementing the One-Rank, One- Pay norm for the army retired personnel” Answering questions, he says in today’s political context it is imperative to note that the state of Tripura has for long survived under a communist regime which could not provide jobs to many.“Thus it is high time, people opt for a change and development,” he underlines even as his brother and nephew standing nearby does not agree to his anti-communists rhetoric. Answering a question, Chanrakant Deb Barma says the Congress party has lost its hold in national politics.
“Things have simply gone out of hand for Congress. I will vote for the BJP,” he remarks. Narrating the war-time story, he says, “Indian army and Air Force had a perfect
planning. The units advancements and formation, all went off very well’.
As a war veteran, he keeps an eye on the strategic and foreign policy developments too and says India and Japan trying for forging a maritime alliance is a good sign and also that such policies of Prime Minister Modi will help India in the long run.
Rose Valley Chit Fund scam
Among other issues, the Rose Valley Chit Fund scam is being hotly debated. The sitting Bagbasa
legislator Bijitha Nath, the high profile Tripura Minister for Social Welfare, Social Education, Science and Technology, is at the receiving end now.
A large number of voters in Bagbasa area are unhappy with her and indicate that in the February 18 polls, she could face the brunt. In fact, closer scrutiny suggests some of her party workers and supporters are also displeased with her in connection with the scam. Ramah Halam, a trader in Bagbasa area says, “Ms Bijijtha Nath has to pay a price. It has to be political price because she used her political clout to push Rose Valley chit fund
business. There is a scam of Rs 35,000 crore and 14 lakh innocent voters were duped”.
The Kolkata-based Rose Valley Hotels and Entertainments has been accused of running a Ponzi or chit fund scam resulting in cheating investors in Tripura ans also in Assam, West Bengal and Bihar.
Ms Nath was accused of being an “agent” of Rose Valley company and for allegedly promoting their business. She was also questioned by CBI in 2017.
Kishore Das, a poll agent of BJP candidate Pradip Kumar Nath says, “Bijitha Nath at one point openly endorsed the Rose Valley business. The fact that the Chief Minister Manik Sarkar inaugurated the company’s amusement park in Agartala proves that the entire Left Front government is involved in all the wrong doings of the Rose Valley”. Over 1000 CPI-M workers and supporters have already joined the BJP in the run up to the elections.
Saffron penetration in Red Fortresses in Bachai Bari locality under Khowai constituency—not far from Bangladesh border, shopkeeper Atanu Das talks about
‘pro-change mood’ among the people. But he is still apprehensive as pre-poll violence has started.
“Even my father still attends CPI-M rally, but I feel the time is ripe for change—‘Chalo Paltai’,” he says.
“In Khowai constituency, the contest is more than mere exciting. Left cadres used to rule in the area with their threats. Now that is thing of past. A group of CPI-M cadres were attacked by party comrades and threatened but yet they joined BJP,” says roadside tea stall owner
Tridip Dey.
BJP’s first timer Amit Rakshit is pitted against CPI-M sitting MLA and nominee Nirmal Biswas. From statistics point of view, the argument definitely goes in favour of the CPI-M.
In 2015 by-election, CPI-M nominee Mr Biswas had won the seat by defeating the nearest Congress nominee by a margin of 16,000 votes out of a total electorate of 40,000.
BJP’s poll strategists have eyed among others the tribal voters including a substantial Mundas and hence Jharkhand Chief Minister Arjun Munda was asked to campaign in the region.
In nearby Asharam Bari segment, BJP’s ally Indigenous People’s Front of Tripura (IPFT) candidate greenhorn Mebar Kumar Jamatiya is taking on senior comrade Agor Deb Barman, state Agriculture Minister.
Indranath Jamatiya, a tribal farmer and who also deals with seeds, sums up the paradox well, “When people have made up their mind, the CPI-M propaganda led by Manik Sarkar may not help them. Every beginning has an end. If 1990s marked the dawn of communist era, now it is time, they move out”. CPI-M worker Jayanto Das says, “The BJP is playing with fire. They have aligned with a group that wants to play up divisive tribal-non tribal games in Tripura. Their unholy alliance with IPFT will force substantial Bengali voters not to vote for them. But Amulya Shah of Baghlai village says such ‘propaganda’ will not help. “People have gauged the mood of change and even if BJP is with the tribal group IPFT, people would vote against CPI-M”. *
Comments