Agartala, Apr 22 (PTI) Leader of Opposition (LoP) in the Tripura Assembly, Jitendra Chaudhury, on Wednesday demanded financial aid for all families, irrespective of their political inclination, who have been affected by political violence in the northeastern state since 2018.
He made this demand two days after Chief Minister Manik Saha announced financial assistance of Rs 64.50 lakh for the 258 families affected by post-poll violence after the tribal council election results were announced.
Several houses of BJP workers were allegedly vandalised by Tipra Motha Party (TMP) supporters, prompting BJP leaders and workers to take shelter in relief camps. A sizeable number of BJP party offices were allegedly set on fire by TMP after the TTAADC election results were announced on April 17.
The TMP won the Tripura Tribal Areas Autonomous District Council (TTAADC) elections by securing 24 out of the 28 seats, while the BJP won four seats.
“We are not against the government extending financial support to any individual or families affected by any disaster or violence, but the way the chief minister announced financial assistance of Rs 64.50 lakh to 258 families after the tribal council election results has raised many questions,” Chaudhury said in a video post.
He claimed hundreds of CPI (M) party offices were attacked, torched or dismantled, many party activists were killed, and thousands of party leaders and workers have become victims of violence during the BJP’s eight-year rule.
“We had submitted a memorandum to the chief minister seeking financial aid for those poor families who suffered due to violence, but not a penny has been given till now,” he said.
“We appealed to the chief minister to consider assisting all people who had been victims of violence, be it pre-poll or post-poll, because the government is for the people. If you don’t extend aid to all victims of political violence, it will be a one-sided move and send a wrong message to society,” the Leader of Opposition said.
Reacting sharply to the move, Tripura Pradesh Congress president Asish Kumar Saha on Wednesday also questioned the “selective aid move” for the victims of political violence.
“We heard the chief minister announced financial aid to the tune of Rs 64.50 lakh to 258 BJP families who became victims of post-poll violence from the Chief Minister’s Relief Fund. The Chief Minister’s Relief Fund is not meant for helping only BJP families, and the Congress demands compensation for all those who had been victims of political violence, or else it will be an unethical move,” he told reporters. PTI PS RG
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