Biplab Deb defends party against criticism on the Lenin statue issue, says ‘we don’t believe in vandalism’.
Agartala: Tripura’s freshly minted chief minister Biplab Deb has his priorities set out as he prepares to lead the state’s first BJP-led government.
“Na khaaoonga, na khaane doonga (Won’t take bribes, won’t let anyone else take bribes),” Deb, 46, told ThePrint in an interview, echoing PM Narendra Modi’s viral slogan.
Tackling corruption tops Deb’s agenda, his road map for this centred on rejigging the state vigilance department and reviving the intelligence unit: the two departments, he said, were undermined by the erstwhile CPI (M) government.
“I will myself monitor vigilance and intelligence reports daily,” he added. “Corruption will not be tolerated. Unlike the days of the CPI(M) government, when these two departments became redundant and reporting from the party was final, we will have a system to keep corruption in check,” he said.
Encouraging industry and employment is another priority area. Attracting industries might prove a challenge given the state’s strong ‘union culture’, but Deb is undaunted. He said industry tycoons had already approached him with proposals, adding that his government aimed to check ‘union bullies’.
“I have not come to break the unions. My aim is to destroy the goondaism perpetrated in Tripura in the name of unions,” he said. “Hampering growth and development in the name of unionism will not be tolerated. We promised to bring in industry and employment and we will deliver that,” the first-time MLA added. “During the CPI(M) regime, it was the unions who gathered hafta from people for party funds. That won’t work now.”
While the BJP has enough seats, 35, to gain a majority in the 60-member assembly, its pre-poll alliance with the Indigenous People’s Front of Tripura (IPFT), a local party that seeks a separate state for tribals and won eight seats in the recent polls, won it a landslide.
Concerns have been raised about the alliance over the IPFT’s statehood demand, with party chief N.C. Debbarma, now one of the outfit’s two cabinet ministers, reiterating its commitment to form ‘Twipuraland’ after the election. But Deb said the alliance was here to stay.
“The media keeps asking the IPFT about their demand for a separate state. They (the IPFT) are emotional on certain issues, but people have given us the mandate to govern. The mandate is big and everyone should know what that means,” he said.
“Modiji does not consult detractors as they are there to just protest,” the CM added.
Asked about the controversial felling of a statue of Vladimir Lenin, a communist icon, by BJP workers after the party’s win, Deb said PM Modi and BJP chief Amit Shah had already issued a strong warning against such acts.
Stating that the episode occurred when his government was yet to take oath, he added, “This incident occurred during my predecessor’s time. I hadn’t been sworn in by then.”
“Who did it and why is yet to be looked into as no FIR has been registered in the case,” he said.
Referring to opposition criticism on the issue, he added, “A few netas in Delhi want to run their shops of gossip by making statements. My PM has spoken on the issue and we don’t believe in vandalism.”
“I have to look forward and work for Tripura,” he said, “And leave the Left rule behind.”