Agartala: Opposition Leader and CPI(M) senior leader Jiten Chowdhury held a wide-ranging press conference on Friday, launching a sharp attack on the state government over a series of pressing issues, including salary delays, bureaucratic irregularities, the unnatural death of a healthcare worker, and the government’s silence on the killing of Indian sailors in the Middle East.
On Tipra Motha leader Pradyot Kishore Debbarma’s claim that Prime Minister Modi and Home Minister Amit Shah are doing excellent work for Tripura’s tribal communities, Chowdhury expressed strong disagreement, questioning the ground reality of tribal welfare under the current dispensation.
Chowdhury strongly criticised the reported re-appointment of retired bureaucrats carrying serious allegations against them, and raised serious concern over the recent IAS promotion of an official allegedly linked to illegal assets worth several crores of rupees within and outside the state, demanding immediate accountability and investigation.
On the issue of salary delays, the opposition leader expressed deep concern over nearly three thousand state government employees not receiving their salaries, while Anganwadi workers are being forced to take to the streets across the state demanding regular wage payments.
Regarding the Supreme Court’s ruling making the TET examination mandatory for serving non-TET teachers, Chowdhury called for a sensitive and practical approach by the state government to protect the interests of affected teachers.
The opposition leader also sharply criticised the Prime Minister’s continued silence over the death of three Indian sailors following a reported US attack on an Indian oil tanker in the Strait of Hormuz, calling it a matter of national shame.
On the unnatural death of a healthcare worker at Shantiniketan Medical College, Chowdhury expressed solidarity with the victim’s family, who have alleged premeditated murder, and demanded a High Court judge-led independent investigation, drawing parallels with the RG Kar Medical College case.
Finally, he questioned the government’s passive response to the 72-hour bandh called by surrendered militants, which he said serves no public interest whatsoever, and demanded that the government take firm and decisive action to protect the people of Tripura.