GMP demands Parliamentary Affairs minister's removal over racist remark

Tripura Rajya Upajati Ganamukti Parishad (GMP), the Left Front's indigenous wing on Friday  demanded removal of  Ratan Lal Nath from state’s cabinet for his alleged  racist remarks against Leader of Opposition (LoP) Jitendra Chaudhury during ongoing budget session of Assembly.

GMP on Friday (March 28) formally submitted to Governor Indra Sena Reddy Nallu through a memorandum.

The controversy arise  from an incident in the  Assembly on March 24, where Chaudhury, a veteran CPI(M) leader, was discussing an alleged corruption case involving a minister's family. During the discussion, Ratan Lal Nath allegedly targeted Chaudhury with caste-based remarks and threats.

On March 25, LoP Jitendra Chaudhury moved a privilege motion against Minister Ratan Lal Nath and said that  “Nath had made the comment on Monday when Chaudhury was addressing the House and opposition in his privilege motion to the Speaker Biswa Bandhu Sen said that “"Under Rule-173 of the Rules of Procedure and Conduct of Business in the Tripura Legislative Assembly, the undersigned intent to lodge a Privilege Motion against Ratan Lal Nath, Member (Hon'ble Minister for Parliamentary Affairs) in regards to the passing of most derogatory and racist remarks as “Jiten Babu Jaten Prichoy Diyechen” (Jiten Babu has demonstrated his tribe), which is not only derogatory and abusive but most racial against himself, his family and his community.”

Chaudhury said that it is a clear breach of privilege which has been committed by the Minister Ratan Lal Nath, while he was discussing the budget of the year 2025-26 at the floor of the House of Monday.

Later, opposition CPI(M) boycotted the remaining days of the budget session of the Assemly.

While, the GMP through their memorandum on Friday said , “We, on behalf of Tripura Rajya Upajati Ganamukti Parishad (GMP) would like to draw your kind attention to the unfortunate incident that occurred in the Tripura Legislative Assembly.”

“Jitendra Chaudhury, Leader of the Opposition, who has served as a Cabinet Minister for 21 years and as an MP for 5 years, was discussing a corruption case when Minister Ratan Lal Nath criticised him by raising caste-ethnic abuses and threatening him. As a result, all democratic people, particularly we, the Adivasis of the state, are feeling extremely insulted. We can't accept this sort of racial attitude of a minister who fails to maintain his honourable status.”

The GMP strongly condemned Nath’s behavior, calling it a serious breach of democratic principles and constitutional values. The organization emphasized that as the Minister of Law and Parliamentary Affairs, Nath is expected to uphold democratic decorum, not undermine it.

“Jitendra Chaudhury is a well-respected and experienced leader of Adivasi communities in Tripura and nationally. While differences of opinion are natural, there are constitutional and civil mechanisms to express them. Minister Ratan Lal Nath’s behavior has brought down the respect of the legislature. Under these circumstances, we urge you to take strict action against Minister Ratan Lal Nath for his caste-ethnic abuses and remove him from the cabinet,” the memorandum further stated.