An Appeal to the Peace-loving Democratic Citizens of Tripura
The leaders of six opposition parties in Tripura – CPI(M) state secretary Jitendra Chowdhury; Congress secretary, Birjit Sinha; CPI secretary Yudhisthir Das; AIFB secretary Paresh Sarkar; RSP secretary Dipak Deb and CPI(ML) secretary Partha Karkar – have issued a joint appeal to the people of Tripura, on December 27. Below we publish the text of the appeal.
AN unimaginable, abnormally anarchical rule was set in, in the state of Tripura since the formation of Alliance government led by the BJP. Civil rights were denied, the individual entity of the media has been destroyed. Independent functioning of the opposition parties has been immobilised by throttling their voice. In fact, a one-party tyrannical rule has been imposed in the state. The right of the electors to freely cast vote has been snatched away. The election has been reduced to a farcical event. Intentional inactiveness of the administration, particularly of a section of the police administration has helped the ruling party to carry on their unconstitutional and undemocratic actions and indulged the miscreants abetted by the ruling party. Incidents like murder, terror actions, looting, and extortion of money are common features in the state. The sources of means on the basis of which the people maintain day to day livelihood are being destroyed. In places, the people are being evicted from their ancestral land and forced to depart for other places or other states. Ferocious crimes against mothers and sisters are taking place in the state. The police do not touch the criminals as they carry the label of ruling party followers or are patronised by the ruling party. On the contrary, the framed up cases against the victims are piling up. The rule of law has been replaced by rule of jungle.
We trust that the peaceful, democratic-minded people of Tripura shall not accept the appalling situation that has been prevailing in the state. We earnestly call upon the people of the state to spontaneously come forward cutting across political identities, religion, caste and community to raise a united voice of protest against this misrule and come forward to bring an end to this black regime. We like to bring to the notice of the general administration and particularly the police administration, they should pursue impartial stand, play effective stern role to restore rule of law in the state. Ahead of the ensuing assembly election, we appeal the Election Commission to take proactive measures to conduct the election in a healthy democratic atmosphere and ensure that the voters are able to exercise their right to vote freely.
