YOUTH of the state once again showed their indomitable zeal to fight against all onslaughts on democratic rights, their determination to fight out an authoritarian regime that has been reigning in the state since 2018.  Two left youth organisations- DYFI and TYF (Tribal Youth Federation) of Tripura, organised an impressive demonstration and rally of the youth at Agartala on  February 27th. The youth marching in a long procession were airing their voice on their 10-point charter and were expressing their determination to frustrate the ill designs of the RSS-led BJP government- to divide the people on religious and racial line. The procession was splendidly decorated, carrying organisations’ flags, festoons placards showing their demands, chanting slogans in high pitch and moved through the important roads of the town. Thereafter the youth met in a rally in front of the Rabindra Shatabarshiki Bhavan. These youth comprised tribals and other youth, men and women from all the sub-divisions of the state. Among the tribals, they were represented by most of the sub-tribes living in the state. While marching along the street, the people standing by the roadside inspired them with a friendly gesture.

This successful youth mobilisation was not that easy. Rather, it had to undo several hurdles planted by the ruling BJP using their administration as well as fielding their paid miscreants. Firstly, the police denied permission to use Vivekananda ground for this youth programme on a flimsy excuse. However, the organisers agreed to Rabindra Shatabarshiki Bhavan lane which was quite small and not proper for such a programme. Then the BJP fielded their miscreants in all sub-divisions to threat the youth intending to participate in the rally going house to house. They threatened the vehicle drivers and owners not to provide vehicles to the left youth to attend the rally in Agartala. How far the ruling BJP got frustrated on the success of this youth demonstration was reflected in their rage. On the same night, the BJP hoodlums carried out cowardly attacks on about 35 houses of the left youth at Dukli, Belonia, Panisagar and Dharmanagar sub-divisions.

The youth rally jointly presided over by Palash Bhowmik, DYFI and Rajendra Reang, TYF was addressed among others by AmalenduDebbarma, Nabarun Deb, secretaries of TYF and DYFI respectively and CPI(M) Polit Bureau Member, Manik Sarkar.

Narrating the three-years long tyrannical rule of RSS-led BJP, Manik Sarkar called upon the youth to take the challenge in the upcoming TTAADC(The Tripura Tribal Areas Autonomous District Council) election. Reminding all the farcical elections held during this regime where the ruling party miscreants snatched away the right to the franchise from innumerable innocent voters, Manik Sarkar urged that the youth of the state must ensure that in the ADC election, every voter casts vote. They must stand in unison with other sections of the people against the vote-robbers.

Describing the ‘vision document’ (BJP’s electoral manifesto) as a document of deception, Manik Sarkar said, it had many golden promises, which remain only in records, but not a single was implemented. On the other hand, already distressed people due to the yearlong Covid pandemic has been further burdened with the petroleum price hike and taxation on various goods and services. Thus disillusionment about the BJP among the people is taking place fast.

Alerting the youth against a wicked drive for fomenting ethnic distrust in the name of “Greater Twipraland” and “all in Tribal unity” by a section led by Pradyut Kishore Debbarman, grandson of the last king of the state, Manik Sarkar said, such ridiculous, unfeasible demands are raised only to divert the peoples’ attention from the real crisis before the state and the nation and utter failure of the governments to address any of those.

Those who are in the wrong camp must not be thought to be untouchables, Manik Sarkar advised and continued, pursue them with ground reality, logic and reasons. Keep on trust, they would be overcome, Manik Sarkar concluded. 

Nabarun Deb and AmalenduDebbarma elaborated the 10-point demands which include urgently filling up of vacant posts in the government departments, reinstatement of all the retrenched 10,323 teachers and upgrade all the casual/contract employees to regular posts. All these were promised in the ‘vision document’ by the ruling party during Assembly election.