Agartala, Nov 11 (PTI) Tipra Motha Party (TMP) founder Pradyot Kishore Manikya Debbarma on Wednesday demanded a public apology from BJP MLA Tafajjal Hussain over his controversial remarks on the food habits and lifestyle of indigenous people in Tripura.
A video purportedly showing Hussain, the BJP legislator from Boxanagar Assembly constituency in Sepahijala district, making the controversial remarks has triggered a political controversy in the state.
Reacting to the remarks in a social media post, Debbarma said, “Whether it is this MLA or YouTuber Amir Shokeen, there is no difference in their attitude towards us. We are Tiprasa, and our eating habits do not change with who is in power.”
The TMP founder also demanded an apology from the legislator, accusing him of making remarks that could incite communal hatred.
“This man should apologise for his statement and inciting communal hatred. Those who smuggle cows to Bangladesh should not preach to us about what we eat in Tripura,” Debbarma said in a video message.
Reacting to the controversy, BJP state general secretary Bipin Debbarma said the MLA’s remarks on the food habits of indigenous people were undesirable.
“Every society has its own culture and food habits. One should not target the culture or food habits of others. We will lodge a complaint with the state president and the chief minister. The party firmly believes that everybody should respect each other’s culture, tradition and food habits,” he said.
Leader of the Opposition in the Tripura Assembly, Jitendra Chaudhury, also condemned the BJP MLA’s remarks, describing them as “irresponsible and objectionable”.
“The statement of the BJP MLA has directly hurt the sentiments of the indigenous people of the state. I urge the CM to take action against his party MLA for using irresponsible and objectionable words against the tribal society. This is against the centuries-old tradition and culture of the indigenous tribes,” he said. PTI PS MNB
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