Agartala: Tripura Minister of State for Industries and Commerce Brishaketu Debbarma on Thursday questioned Chief Minister announcement of financial assistance to victims of post-poll violence, saying the relief should have been inclusive.
Debbarma, who is also the general secretary of the Tipra Motha Party, said the decision to extend assistance from the Chief Minister’s Relief Fund (CMRF) appeared selective.
“The CPI(M) and Congress have raised valid points… If the Chief Minister has to make an announcement, the relief should have been all-inclusive,” he said.
The minister said opposition parties had questioned why relief was being extended in the present instance while similar assistance was not announced in earlier cases of post-poll violence, including after the 2023 Assembly elections.
He also rejected allegations of widespread violence involving his party’s workers following the recent polls.
“Soon after the election results were declared, our party supremo urged party workers to maintain calm. I have issued strict instructions,” Debbarma said.
Referring to a list of 35 persons reportedly prepared by the administration for financial assistance, he said he found no evidence of involvement by his party workers in those cases.
“When I went through the list, I realised that no one from our party even shouted an abusive word at them,” he said.
The Chief Minister had earlier announced financial assistance from the CMRF for families affected by post-Tripura ADC polls violence. A sum of Rs 64.50 lakh was sanctioned for 258 victim families of the post-poll violence.
