By TC News Desk
Agartala, 4th September 2025: Tripura BJP president Rajib Bhattacharya on Thursday launched a scathing attack on the CPI(M), accusing the former Left government of failing to ensure justice in the aftermath of the 1980 riots and the 1996 Kamalpur Colony Bazar massacre.
Addressing a press conference at the BJP state office, Bhattacharya alleged that the then Communist government neither formed an investigation commission into the 1980 riots nor shared details with the public on the number of deaths, evictions, and people affected. “It is clear that the then government lacked the honesty and right approach to deal with such a tragedy,” he said.
He claimed that despite having advance information about the riots, the then ruling CPI(M) failed to alert the police. “No government official even visited Mandai for 36 hours. Bodies lay unattended for a week, spreading stench. Yet no action was taken,” Bhattacharya alleged.
He further recalled that former Prime Minister and then BJP national president Atal Bihari Vajpayee had personally urged the state government to act, but his advice was ignored. “Even more shocking is that the ruling CPI(M) did not express any regret after the incident,” he added.
The BJP state chief also referred to the 1996 Kamalpur Colony Bazar massacre, where 25 people were killed. “Had the police reached on time, many lives could have been saved. Till date, no white paper has been released on who was responsible for the killings,” he said.
Bhattacharya alleged that after coming to power in 1993, the Left government even attempted to recruit militants into vacant state posts in 1994, though the decision was later withdrawn following public anger. He also accused the CPI(M) of trying to create divisions between the plains and hills.
On a separate note, Bhattacharya highlighted the decisions taken at the 56th GST Council meeting chaired by Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman. He said several reductions in GST rates, including zero tax in some cases, will directly benefit people. He thanked Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the Finance Minister for the relief measures.
