Former Tripura Chief Minister and senior CPI (M) leader Manik Sarkar faced protests and black flag demonstrations by a group of villagers at Kalibazar in West Tripura district on Sunday while he was on his way to attend a DYFI programme.
The incident triggered strong reactions from the CPI (M) and Congress, which condemned the protest and alleged that it reflected the deteriorating law-and-order situation in the state under the BJP-led government. The BJP's response to the allegations was not immediately available.
According to police, Sarkar was travelling to attend the Mohanpur divisional conference of the CPI(M)'s youth organisation, the Democratic Youth Federation of India (DYFI), at Kalibazar around 12 noon on Sunday when protesters gathered in front of the CPI(M) office and attempted to stop his vehicle.
The protesters allegedly placed barricades on the road, raised slogans asking Sarkar to return and waved black flags at the former Chief Minister, who held office in Tripura from 1998 to 2018.
A strong contingent of police and CRPF personnel reached the spot after receiving information about the protest and escorted Sarkar safely to the CPI (M) office.
"He was safely taken to the venue, where he addressed the programme, and later returned to Agartala without any problem," said Sub-Divisional Police Officer (SDPO), Mohanpur, Asish Das Gupta.
The CPI(M) state committee accused BJP workers of deliberately attempting to disrupt the DYFI conference and termed the incident an "undemocratic" act. The party has also organized a protest rally in Agartala on Sunday evening and urged the people of the state to organize protest against hooliganism by ruling party.
In a statement, the CPI(M) state secretariat alleged that some BJP supporters gathered near the party office before Sarkar's arrival and obstructed his vehicle from entering the venue. The party demanded action against those involved and accused the BJP and RSS of attempting to suppress opposition programmes.
CPI(M) state secretary and Leader of Opposition in the Tripura Assembly, Jitendra Chaudhury, condemned the incident and said he had spoken to Director General of Police (in-charge) GS Rao, who assured him that the matter would be examined.
"It was a deliberate attempt to prevent the former Chief Minister from attending a party programme. Those responsible will not be able to hide once people come out in protest," Chaudhury said.
Senior Congress MLA Sudip Roy Barman also criticised the incident, alleging that the protest against a former Chief Minister highlighted the prevailing law-and-order situation in the state. He demanded action against those involved and alleged that the protesters acted at the direction of local BJP leaders.
The CPI(M) further claimed that such incidents showed increasing intolerance towards opposition political activities and appealed to democratic-minded people to protest against what it described as attempts to silence the opposition.