Agartala, June 2: Senior Congress MLA and former minister Sudip Roy Barman on Monday strongly criticized Tipra Motha and its youth wing, the Tipra Youth Federation (YTF), calling their ongoing protest against Gomati District Magistrate Tarit Kanti Chakma a “drama” designed to mislead the public.
The YTF has been agitating in Udaipur, demanding action against the DM for allegedly misbehaving with Tipra Motha founder and royal scion Pradyot Kishore Debbarma. Protesters locked the gates of the DM’s office complex, accusing the state government of inaction more than a week after the incident.
Speaking at a press conference in Agartala, Roy Barman dismissed the protest as politically motivated. “What should I say—this is just a show. You live together as a family, and then you fight, destroy property, and lock offices. It’s all just to mislead common people,” he said.
The Congress leader further added that the agitation lacked any substantial public-interest issue. “When there is no concrete issue concerning the public, they resort to manipulating emotions and sentiments. That’s what is happening here,” he remarked.
Tipra Motha, which once led the opposition in Tripura, is now part of the ruling BJP-IPFT alliance. The YTF maintains that no action has been taken against the DM despite Chief Minister Dr. Manik Saha’s assurance that he had spoken to Pradyot and instructed the Chief Secretary to file an investigation report.
Notably, the Congress had initially condemned the DM’s alleged conduct. However, Roy Barman’s latest comments indicate a shift in the party’s stance, suggesting that the protest may be driven more by political strategy than genuine grievance.
