By TC News Desk
Agartala, 25th March 2025: A heated confrontation erupted in the Tripura Legislative Assembly on Tuesday as opposition CPIM legislators staged a walkout, protesting against an alleged caste-based remark by Parliamentary Affairs Minister Ratan Lal Nath directed at Leader of Opposition (LoP) Jitendra Chaudhury.
The controversy arose when CPIM MLA Shayamal Chakraborty raised concerns over the minister’s comment, which was reportedly made during Monday’s budget discussions. According to Chakraborty, Nath had remarked that Chaudhury had “proved his caste,” a statement the CPIM believes carries racial undertones and is inappropriate in a democratic setting.
“He could have critiqued the Leader of Opposition’s ideology, but instead, he brought caste into the discussion. Such language has no place in parliamentary proceedings, and we demand an immediate withdrawal of the remark,” Chakraborty asserted.
However, Assembly Speaker Biswabandhu Sen dismissed the demand, urging members to focus on legislative matters. “This is not the right time to disrupt proceedings over such issues,” he stated.
Defending himself, Minister Ratan Lal Nath accused the CPIM of attempting to stir unrest among indigenous communities. “Your goal is to provoke divisions, but the people of Tripura are well aware of your political agenda,” he countered.
The debate intensified as Jitendra Chaudhury accused the minister of “hooliganism.” In response, the Speaker ordered that the remark be struck from the record, triggering further protests from the CPIM legislators.
Dissatisfied with the ruling, opposition members stormed the well of the House, shouting slogans in protest before walking out of the session in defiance.
