Leader of the Opposition in the Tripura Legislative Assembly, Jitendra Chaudhury raising serious concerns over several important issues affecting the state and the country.
Addressing a press conference at CPI(M) headquarters in Agartala on Thursday, Chaudhury strongly criticized the BJP-led government on matters ranging from tribal welfare and administrative appointments to unpaid salaries, education policies, law and order, and the recent death of a healthcare worker at Shantiniketan medical college in Agartala.
Commenting on the mysterious death of a young healthcare worker employed at Shantiniketan Medical College in Agartala, Chaudhury said the incident has raised serious questions among various sections of society. Referring to allegations made by the victim's family that it was a planned murder rather than a suicide, he demanded a fair and transparent investigation to uncover the truth.
The opposition leader further criticized the state government's handling of the 72-hour bandh called by surrendered insurgents. He alleged that the bandh lacks any agenda connected to public welfare and accused the government of remaining a silent spectator instead of taking proactive measures to safeguard the interests of ordinary citizens.
Responding to comments made by Tipra Motha founder Pradyot Kishore Debbarma, who recently stated that Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union Home Minister Amit Shah have done significant work for the welfare of Tripura's tribal communities, Chaudhury questioned the actual impact of such initiatives and called for a realistic assessment of the socio-economic conditions of indigenous people in the state.
The veteran CPI(M) leader also expressed concern over reports published in sections of the media alleging that several retired bureaucrats facing serious allegations have been repeatedly reappointed by the state government for years. He further questioned the recent promotion of an official to the IAS cadre despite allegations of possessing illegal assets worth several crores both within and outside the state and being involved in legal cases.
On the issue of delayed salaries, Chaudhury alleged that thousands of government employees in Tripura have not been receiving their wages regularly. He also highlighted the ongoing protests by Anganwadi workers across different parts of the state, claiming that irregular salary payments have caused severe hardship among the workforce.
Addressing the Supreme Court's ruling regarding non-TET teachers, the opposition leader said the decision making the Teachers Eligibility Test (TET) mandatory for in-service non-TET teachers would have far-reaching implications and called upon the government to ensure that affected teachers receive adequate support and opportunities to comply with the requirements.
Chaudhury also referred to reports of an attack on an Indian oil tanker in the Strait of Hormuz that allegedly resulted in the deaths of three Indian sailors. He questioned the Centre's response to the incident and criticized what he described as the Prime Minister's silence on the matter.
Chaudhury asserted that these issues reflect growing public dissatisfaction and urged both the state and central governments to address the concerns with transparency and accountability.