Below we publish the extracts of the interview given by CPI(M) Polit Bureau member and former chief minister of Tripura, Manik Sarkar to G Mamatha, People’s Democracy correspondent, in New Delhi on September 13.   

1. Why were there widespread attacks on CPI(M) offices and on the houses of the cadre, on September 8. Why did this happen. What is the background?

On 6th September, there was a programme in Kathalia block in Sonamura subdivision – a mass deputation to the block development officer of Kathalia block. A large area of this block falls under Dhanpur Assembly constituency. The people of this constituency – I am enjoying their blessings and support, and because of that, for the last 20 years plus this term, i.e., 25 years, I have been able to represent them from their constituency to the Tripura legislative assembly.

After the BJP assumed power in Tripura, actually I am being barred to visit this area and meet the people except for the initial 3-4 months. Thrice I was prevented. Even during the last parliament election, not a big mass meeting, as the situation was not conducive because of fascistic terror, attacks and onslaughts against our friends and comrades, but even just standing on the streets, or in a village market and speaking was also not allowed. So you can well imagine that for a long long time, I have been barred from going there. But this time, the people from that area extended their invitation to me: on 6th September we are going to organise a mass deputation on the basis of eight local demands which are all related to economic interests of the common people, poorest of the poor people, middle class and semi-middle class. So immediately I accepted.

During the last 42 months actually, I got on three occasions a request from the police to not proceed to my scheduled programmes due to non-conducive situation. I agreed. And later on, on my own, attended those programmes after a gap of 15 days or one month or so. This time actually I did not find anything of that sort.

A police officer sent a request asking me not to proceed, but I found no grounds to do so as I was going to my own constituency as an MLA.

When I entered the Dhanpur constituency, I found that police barricaded us and behind them were some people, BJP people, burning tyres with black flags in their hands and shouting slogans against us, particularly targeting me. So then a police officer came and requested us not to proceed because it may cause some problem. I said: Why? It is your job to help me go to take part in the programme. Earlier also they did the same thing. It is your job to clear the road and allow me to go. Hundreds of people are there. They are part and parcel of this block. So let me go. But the police role was not positive. They were politically pressurised to help them so that I can’t go.  Anyhow, 45 minutes passed there. Then ultimately an SDM of that sub-division, he came and requested me not to go ahead as there may be some law and order problem. I told him: as an elected MLA of the particular area, I have the right to go. So in that situation they realised that they cannot stop us anymore. Then the roads and all these things were cleared. Some hullabaloo was there; quite natural. Police also tried to block it. Our vehicles were not allowed to move ahead. So, we started walking.

Another blockade was there at Bashpakur. BJP people, from sides threw crackers towards the people who were taking part in the march, pelting stones etc. Anyhow braving all these things, we advanced.  After 5 kilometers, vehicles were allowed to come. We reached the spot. Good gathering was there; demonstration was held and from there, a five-member delegation went to the BDO office. Then we had a small meeting for about 45 minutes.

That is what angered the BJP. They thought it will effect them politically. People mobilised on their demands irrespective of caste or creed. What are the demands? MGNREGA; number of days should increase; wages should be increased; they are not getting wages in time, so that is the most important thing. Apart from this, roads are broken; irrigation projects are not working, and all such things. It is not CPI(M) supporters who are suffering from all these things; all are suffering. Perhaps they thought that because of their threat we would not come and they did not think that people will also mobilise in such a big number. Having seen all these things, I think they got worried. To counter it, they started their terror activities in a bigger away from that particular day – 6th of September. So that is the main thing.
From their side, BJP, on the same evening at Agartala, a minister held a press meet declaring that on 8th of September there will be protests. Why protests, we do not know. Some scuffles might have occurred. It is natural – you are preventing and they are wanting to go; so because of that all false complaints were leveled against CPI(M) and its leaders. On the 8th, in the same area where we organised this programme, they organised their programme and in other parts of the state also. That day, in Agartala, our PC office, our district committee office, Daily Desherkatha office, other print and electronic media offices were attacked, burnt down, and ransacked.

Actually, the main thing is this. They have realised or they started realising that through terror tactics they are not in a position to muzzle the voices of people; because people have to survive na….; so people have started realising that if we sit idle and bow down our heads to this terror, then our hunger will not go; so we shall have to unite, come out from our houses and there is no other party – only the Left, CPI(M) and the Left, they are actually struggling for us. Other than the Left, no one is there. So we shall have to move with them.  That's what is their actual fear. So I think that is the reason. Actually for the last 4-5 months, what we have been observing is that people’s participation in these programmes is increasing.

2. How are such brazen attacks taking place against the main opposition party in the state and what is the role of the state government and administration?

In this regard, what I would like to tell is that it was clear to the BJP that what they promised during the last assembly election –  they actually brought out one vision document to create some illusions among people – economic promises. After getting elected, before election when they were making these promises, it was clear to them that they would not be able to implement those promises. But they say….When they got elected, immediately they started thinking that if they fail to implement all these things, people will not spare them. They will start raising all these things.
That is why, on the particular day of the publication of results, in the afternoon right from the 3rd March of 2018, they started this attack centering CPI(M) as it is the main force of the Left. So it was very clear to them that whatever they had promised in the election campaign would be exposed. So if people start asking: what about your promises? You implement them. We thought you are in the centre and you are in the state and you have claimed that there will be a double-engine car, because it is the same party both in the centre and the state. But now you are not doing anything. So, to muzzle this questioning, they thought the leadership who takes the lead to mobilise the people, if they are attacked and  immobilised,  their capacity to mobilise will be suppressed, that is why they started this attack – first CPI(M), then Left and then other democratic and secular parties too. I think this is one of the basic reasons.

Administration is in the control of political leadership of the government. They cannot take any decision on their own. During our time we used to listen to them first, and then we used to express our line, and after discussions, we used to come to a conclusion for taking some position or overcoming some problems etc. That situation is not there. It is one-way traffic. So in that situation, the administration actually has become pocket borough of the government….of the political executive of the government. Some officers, even including one or two holding the position of chief secretary, they tried to hold independent views, but the government threw them out.

Police in our state had actually earned good name. They fought courageously against extremism. But now police force is completely paralysed.

3. Since the assembly elections in 2018, and the BJP coming to power, what has been the record of its rule and what are the effects of it on the people?

That is the basic thing. False promises; not implementing anything and completely they have taken volte-face. They allured employees, middle class employees through the 7th central pay commission; they allured youth: one government job for each and every family; they allured rural poor: MGNREGA 200 days… I am just mentioning two three things... every year 50,000 jobs… we told how you will be able to do all these things; where from you will get money. They said central government is ours and both of us together will be able to manage all these things. Now they have stopped. Completely they have done volte-face. Youth are asking: what about your promise? Now the chief minister is making speeches here and there saying: don't run after us; if you go to this minister’s house, that minister’s house, minister cannot give you job; where from you will you get job? In Tripura, according to the population ratio this (employment – ed) is the highest in the country. Then immediately I reacted saying that credit for this goes to Left Front government. It is a certificate without knowing you are giving to the Left Front government. There was no industry; infrastructure. We started developing all these things. So, not a single promise was implemented.

If anybody raises any question, they are sought to be browbeaten. So in this situation where the performance of the government is zero, rather is on the minus scale, people are getting annoyed and disillusioned; particularly during this period of covid pandemic – complete mis- management. Our state is a small state with 40 lakh population. By this time around 80,000 people are covid positive; more than 800 people died. There is shortage of doctors and nurses; paramedics shortage... so many problems are there. There is starvation, semi-starvation deaths, instances of selling of organs due to poverty, distress migration, particularly I am telling tribal people’s condition is very, very wretched and pathetic. During our time, we used to pay special attention to the tribal people for the development of their area; infrastructure development and job and education, health care and various others. Now totally opposite is going on.

People have realised sitting idle is not the solution; nobody is listening to us (people). The Left, they are moving; despite attacks, they are moving; so we shall have to be with them. They have realised this and are coming. Within the span of three years, their isolation has started taking place. I have never seen during my entire political life - I have been working with the CPI(M) for the last 52-53 years – this sort of thing. Now those who were suffering from illusions, are now touching their forehead and saying we committed a mistake. Through their daily life experience, people are now coming to realise the difference between the Left Front and BJP governments. That's why they started coming out and that is why there is fear among the government and that is why they are resorting to these terror tactics, but terror is not the last word.

4. In the face of these continuous efforts to suppress the CPI(M) and the Left Front, how have the Party and the mass organisations been working and taking up issues of the people?

It is a very tough battle because they targetted our organisers, leaders, particularly young leaders, in a fascistic method. So, considering all these negative things, our style of functioning had to be changed. So in the initial stage, some problems were there; still some of them are persisting. Our main task was this: resume the contact with the common people; visit their houses, talk to them, don't misunderstand people, give them confidence, respect the verdict of the people. Party functioning was also difficult; Party offices were bulldozed, looted, arsoned. Number of leaders were killed, injured, admitted in the hospital; forced to leave their place of residence. This created lots of problems. We actually had to change our style of functioning. Mass contact and taking up local issues, state issues, burning issues, economic issues, livelihood issues – on that basis now we – the Party, Left and different mass and class organisations – have started working. And the national calls coming to the people of Tripura from different fora, are utilised for mass contact. People of Tripura are trying their best to respond to all these calls. That way we have now started getting good positive response from the people. That is why September 8th attack, it should not be seen in isolation; keeping all these things in mind it should be viewed that is what I have to say.