The political landscape in Tripura heated up this weekend as the state unit of the Congress party launched a daylong hunger strike, only to accuse the Bharatiya Janata Party-led state administration of deliberate obstruction. The protest, held on Sunday, demanded the immediate repeal of the newly enacted Viksit Bharat — Guarantee for Rozgar and Ajeevika Mission (Gramin) Act and the restoration of the previous Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA).
State-Wide Protest Meets Administrative Hurdles
As part of a nationwide movement initiated by the Indian National Congress, the protest was staged simultaneously across all eight districts of Tripura. However, party leaders alleged a systematic effort by the state government to stifle their democratic demonstration. Tripura Pradesh Congress president Asish Kumar Saha claimed that the administration imposed restrictions, denied permissions at several venues, and attempted to disrupt the gatherings.
One of the key sites of tension was near the Gandhi statue in Agartala, where demonstrators were reportedly forced to continue their protest under tense conditions due to administrative interference. Despite these challenges, the hunger strike, which lasted several hours, concluded peacefully.
Leaders Decry "Anti-Poor" Move, Warn of Escalation
Congress leaders vehemently criticized the central government's decision to replace MGNREGA with the VB-G RAM G Act, labeling the move as "anti-poor" and "authoritarian." They argued that this decision has severely impacted the livelihoods of millions of rural workers who depended on the old scheme for assured income and financial stability.
Congress MLA and AICC member Sudip Roy Barman emphasized that MGNREGA was not just a welfare scheme but a legal guarantee of employment that upheld the dignity of rural citizens. He stated that their peaceful and democratic protest aimed to highlight the rising unemployment and rural distress. Roy Barman issued a stern warning, stating that protests would intensify across the state if the government fails to reverse its decision and reinstate the employment guarantee system.
CPM Joins the Fray with Demands
Adding to the political pressure, the opposition Communist Party of India (Marxist) announced plans to agitate for the same cause just a day before the Congress protest. CPM state secretary Jitendra Chaudhury accused the BJP of dismantling a crucial social safety net. He underscored MGNREGA's role in providing 100 days of annual work to rural laborers.
The CPM has outlined a broader set of demands, which include not only the repeal of the VB-G RAM G Act and reinstatement of MGNREGA but also an extension of the guaranteed workdays from 100 to 200 per year and an increase in wages to Rs 600 per worker. This alignment of opposition parties on the issue signals a concerted effort to corner the government on the sensitive topic of rural employment and welfare.
With leaders from both major opposition parties vowing to continue their movement until the rights of the poor and working class are safeguarded, Tripura appears poised for a sustained period of political mobilization centered on the critical issue of employment guarantees.
