BJP Rajya Sabha MP and former Tripura Chief Minister Biplab Kumar Deb has launched a scathing attack on the Communist Party of India (Marxist), branding its 35-year rule in the state as a period of “Permanent Emergency” marked by suppression of democracy, freedom, and historical identity. Speaking at the ‘Samvidhan Hatya Diwas’ (Constitution Murder Day) observance in Agartala to commemorate the 50th anniversary of the Emergency imposed by Indira Gandhi in 1975, Deb accused both the Congress and the CPI(M) of undermining constitutional values and rewriting history for political gain. “Indira Gandhi imposed Emergency for personal reasons and darkened the pages of India’s democratic journey. But the Communists in Tripura ran a ‘Permanent Emergency’ for 35 years, where no one had freedom, and justice depended on party approval,” Deb declared before a large gathering of BJP workers and supporters.
Deb also criticised the CPI(M) for what he described as a sympathetic stance toward Maoist insurgents. Referring to a recent statement by the party’s Politburo on Maoists killed in Chhattisgarh, he alleged, “The CPI(M) created Maoists. And when they are neutralised by security forces, the Politburo issues statements and cries crocodile tears. They have never worked for the welfare of common people.”The former chief minister’s comments are part of a broader BJP narrative linking leftist parties with extremist ideologies and portraying them as obstacles to national security and grassroots development. In a sharp jibe aimed at Congress leader Rahul Gandhi, Deb remarked, “The grandson of the Prime Minister who imposed Emergency now walks around holding the Constitution as a prop. He doesn’t even know how many pages it contains.”Deb accused both Congress and CPI(M) of playing politics with national history, ignoring regional identity, and distorting educational content to further their ideologies.
Deb said the Left regime attempted to erase Tripura’s royal legacy from public memory. “During Communist rule, our kings and heritage were wiped out from school textbooks. The syllabus was manipulated to keep people disconnected from their roots and cultural pride,” he alleged. He said that the BJP, under Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s leadership, is working to restore Tripura’s cultural consciousness and give due respect to its historical figures and indigenous traditions. Deb warned against erasing or forgetting historical truths, saying that doing so risks losing the state’s identity. “History must be remembered, not rewritten. If we forget our past, we lose our future. That was always the agenda of the Communists and Congress — to erase who we are,” he said.
