Leader of the Opposition in the Tripura Assembly, Jitendra Chaudhury, on Monday demanded the immediate removal of Tribal Welfare Minister Bikash Debbarma from the Manik Saha-led Cabinet, accusing him of making unconstitutional and inflammatory remarks against the Tipra Motha Party (TMP), an important ally of the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP). Raising serious concerns, Chaudhury alleged that Debbarma made threatening statements during a political rally held in Agartala on December 13. According to him, the minister reportedly warned TMP leaders and supporters that he would “rip them apart like chicken” if they failed to control what he described as “hooliganism.” Chaudhury said such language from a sitting minister was unacceptable and dangerous in a democratic setup. The Tipra Motha Party, along with the Indigenous People’s Front of Tripura (IPFT), is a junior partner in the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) government in Tripura. Given this political arrangement, the Opposition leader said the remarks were not only provocative but also damaging to the stability of the ruling coalition.
Chaudhury pointed out that several senior leaders were present at the rally where the alleged remarks were made. These included Chief Minister Manik Saha, BJP state president Rajib Bhattacharjee, and cabinet ministers Sushanta Chowdhury and Tinku Roy. He questioned why no immediate objection was raised at the event and said the silence of senior leaders sent a wrong message. In a video message shared on social media, the LoP strongly condemned Debbarma’s statements, calling them “totally unconstitutional and inflammatory.” He said that threatening language by a minister amounts to a cognisable offence and goes against the basic values of the Constitution. “The manner in which the Tribal Welfare Minister threatened to rip apart TMP leaders and workers like chicken is unacceptable. Such statements violate constitutional norms and must be condemned,” Chaudhury said.
While acknowledging that political parties may disagree and criticise each other, Chaudhury stressed that a minister has no authority to issue threats or use violent language against any political group. He said ministers are expected to act responsibly and uphold democratic values.Chaudhury urged Governor N. Indrasena Reddy and Chief Minister Manik Saha to take immediate action by removing Bikash Debbarma from the Cabinet. He warned that failing to act could worsen the already tense political situation in the state.“If immediate steps are not taken, the political environment in Tripura, which is already under strain, will deteriorate further,” he said.
