Stay on the streets. Unite. Move forward with courage. Continue the struggle. Do not allow the oppressors to escape -- This was the call given by Tripura Assembly Opposition Leader Jitendra Chaudhury at a massive public meeting held at Swami Vivekananda Maidan (Astabal) in Agartala on Tuesday. The rally marked the beginning of the 22^ND Tripura State Conference of the All India Kisan Sabha (AIKS) and witnessed a large participation of farmers, workers and other sections of the working people.

Addressing the gathering, AIKS general secretary and CPI(M) Polit Bureau member Vijoo Krishnan said the “corrupt, anti-people double-engine government” would be stopped by the red flag. Farmers, workers, youth, women, Dalits and all oppressed sections of society would together defeat the forces pursuing anti-people policies and pave the way for an alternative government committed to people’s interests. Krishnan congratulated those who had reached the rally carrying the red flag despite attacks and obstruction by ruling-party goons, as well as the thousands who could not attend because of the obstacles created by the ruling party.

Recalling the farmers’ struggle against the three farm laws, he said more than 500 farmers’ organisations had united on a common platform and remained on the streets for over a year, compelling the Narendra Modi government to withdraw the anti-farmer laws. He also cited the recent student-youth movement against corruption in the NEET examination as another example of people’s struggles forcing the government to retreat.

Referring to Satyajit Ray’s Hirak Rajar Deshe, Krishnan recalled the slogan, “Dori dhore maro tan, raja hobe khan khan” (Pull the rope together, and the king will be shattered). He said the same spirit of collective struggle was necessary to defeat a government serving corporate interests.

Krishnan said the BJP had come to power in 2014 promising to implement the Swaminathan Commission formula for remunerative prices to farmers, but had failed to fulfil the promise even after 12 years. Agricultural distress, indebtedness and farmer suicides had reached alarming levels. At the same time, labour rights had been curtailed through the labour codes, MGNREGA had been weakened and unemployment had reached unprecedented levels.

He said the situation in Tripura reflected the same policies pursued by the BJP-led government at the Centre. Farmers in Tripura were receiving ₹700 to ₹1,000 less per quintal for paddy than the minimum support price, while rubber growers were facing a severe crisis. Fertiliser shortages continued and no land pattas had been distributed over the past eight years, he alleged. Promises of jobs, regularisation of irregular workers and benefits under the Seventh Pay Commission had remained unfulfilled.

Krishnan also criticised the government’s agricultural trade policies, alleging that concessions made to the United States would allow American agricultural products, including dairy and fruit products, to enter Indian markets without adequate protection for domestic producers. This, he warned, would deepen the agrarian crisis and force more farmers to abandon agriculture.

AIKS vice-president and eight-time former MP Hannan Mollah said the government was not merely anti-farmer but “corporate, communal and fascist” in character. He accused the BJP-RSS of using religious divisions to retain political power while undermining the interests of farmers, workers and the poor.

“The double-engine government has become a trouble for Tripura,” Mollah said, alleging that a new form of authoritarianism was being imposed in the state. He called for strengthening worker-peasant unity and intensifying sustained mass struggles against oppression.

Opposition Leader Jitendra Chaudhury said democratic rights had come under severe attack in Tripura. He alleged that freedom of speech, individual liberty and people’s security were being undermined, and referred to the death of the state’s Director General of Police, questioning how ordinary citizens could feel secure when even the police chief was allegedly not safe.

Chaudhury also criticised the government over unemployment and vacancies in public services. Education, he said, was in serious crisis, with schools suffering from an acute shortage of teachers. Around 62,000 students had reportedly dropped out of the school system over the past few years, while thousands of posts remained vacant across departments.

He alleged that corruption, “mafia raj” and “commission raj” had become widespread, while ruling-party political structures were exercising excessive influence over administration and development works.

Chaudhury urged people not to remain silent in the face of attacks. “People are awakening and coming onto the streets,” he said, adding that attempts to intimidate the opposition through attacks and obstruction would not succeed.

AIKS Tripura state president Aghore Debbarma said the government neither understood the language of democracy nor respected the dignity of ordinary people. He alleged attacks on farmers’ livelihoods, including destruction of crops and poisoning of fish ponds, while roads, schools, healthcare and other public services continued to deteriorate.

He called upon the people to resolve to defeat the BJP through democratic means in the 2028 Assembly elections.

AIKS Tripura state secretary Pabitra Kar said the last eight years had brought severe hardship to farmers, workers, youth, women, Dalits, tribals and other sections. Rubber plantations, fish ponds, vegetable fields and livelihoods had all come under attack, he alleged. Even farmers affected by the devastating floods of 2024 had not received adequate assistance from the government, he said, adding that the AIKS had stood by affected farmers within its capacity. The rally was also addressed by AIKS leaders Amal Halder, Biplab Majumder, Radhacharan Debbarma, Narayan Kar, Motilal Sarkar, Narayan Deb and Salil Debbarma, among others.

The speakers called for strengthening the unity of farmers and workers and intensifying mass struggles to defeat anti-people policies and establish an alternative government committed to the interests of the working people.