BY TC News Desk
Agartala, 14th July 2025: The Tripura Pradesh Congress Committee (TPCC) staged statewide protests today, including a major demonstration outside the Tripura State Electricity Corporation Limited (TSECL) office in Agartala, decrying the steep hike in electricity tariffs, the rollout of prepaid smart meters, and the surging prices of PNG, CNG, and road tax.
The protest also raised alarm over the worsening law and order situation and a spate of recent attacks on opposition leaders. The Congress accused the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) of backing anti-social elements allegedly involved in assaults on senior party leaders, including MLA and CWC Permanent Invitee Sudip Roy Barman, MLA Gopal Roy, and other opposition legislators.
Addressing the protestors, TPCC spokesperson Prabir Chakraborty launched a sharp attack on the BJP-led central government, accusing it of promoting policies that favor corporates at the expense of the common people.
“Since 2014, every significant policy has benefited large corporates while putting an unbearable burden on the middle and lower-income groups,” Chakraborty said. He cited the Goods and Services Tax (GST) regime as a major contributor to financial stress for the poor and alleged that fraudulent companies siphoned off Rs 3.2 lakh crore through Input Tax Credit (ITC) scams between 2022 and 2024.
Chakraborty also criticized the government’s push for digital payments, alleging a lack of user protection despite substantial public money being spent to promote platforms like Paytm and Google Pay. “In the past 22 months alone, India recorded over 44 lakh digital fraud cases, with losses amounting to Rs 6,794 crore,” he said.
Turning to the state’s power sector, he claimed that TSECL’s financial condition had deteriorated sharply. “In 2018, the corporation had Rs 350 crore in deposits. Today, its debt has crossed Rs 1,000 crore. Even vital facilities like the ICU of GB Pant Hospital are facing power cuts,” Chakraborty said.
He warned that the prepaid smart meter system would disproportionately affect economically weaker sections. “When the balance runs out, families will be plunged into darkness unless they recharge like they would a mobile phone. This is grossly unfair,” he said.
