Key Takeaways
- The Manik Sarkar allegation links BJP to drug dealers and criminal networks.
- A total of 25 arrests were made by NIA across multiple Tripura districts.
- The scandal could influence the BJP’s performance in the upcoming 2024 Lok Sabha polls.
Agartala: The opposition CPI-M accused ruling BJP in Tripura of sheltering anti-social elements, drug dealers, and cross-border criminals who have been misusing their intimacy with the ruling party leaders and the administration for pursuing their illegal business.
However, BJP State President Rajib Bhattacharjee denied the allegations and said such statements are motivated and defamatory. He said, “BJP never indulged in any sort of crime and criminals have no space in the party. But if some criminals refer to BJP’s name for their personal purposes, the party cannot shoulder its responsibility. This government gave full autonomy to police to take action against criminals and the party never stands with any criminal.”
Addressing a party rally in Belonia of South Tripura former Chief Minister and CPI-M Politburo member Manik Sarkar alleged that most of the accused persons who had been arrested by NIA on the charge of human trafficking, drug dealing and cross-border crimes from bordering areas of Tripura were identified as active BJP workers.
As many as 25 people from bordering locations of Unokoti, West Tripura, Khowai, Sepahijala, and South Tripura districts were arrested on November 8 during a nationwide crackdown operation by NIA.
The operation targeted human traffickers, drug dealers, and cross‑border criminals. All of them have been placed in NIA custody.
However, Sarkar went on to allege that some of the ministers of BJP government have cannabis plantations in their native villages and said, “When we started to gather information about the NIA detainees it was found that 24 out of them have links with the ruling party. They are serving in the party at different levels and are still active members, which is a bad omen for Tripura.”
He claimed soon after BJP-IPFT government came to power in 2018 with unrealistic tall promises, the menace of drugs gradually became a major concern for the state. As soon as the then government announced the slogan of ‘drug-free Tripura’ abuse of drugs and narcotics became rampant among the youths.
“Drug dealers, ruling party workers, and a section of police and security personnel developed a nexus, which was proved in several cases, and a large number of police officers have been arrested on the charge of hobnobbing with drug mafias and anti-social elements. With the support of ruling party leaders, criminals have terrorised public life for last few years. In all the cases, the complaint was lodged but no action yet,” Sarkar stated.
Sarkar predicted that the saffron party will lose all five states in the ongoing elections and underlined, “The emerging situation makes it very clear that the BJP has no chance to get re-elected in the states it is ruling. The scope for BJP’s revival in states where the Congress is in power is also bleak. And, all these factors are a signal of BJP’s ultimate defeat in the 2024 Lok Sabha polls.”
