Differences surface within CPI-M in Tripura over law and order

Differences have reportedly surfaced within the ranks of the Communist Party of India-Marxist (CPI-M) in Tripura over the issue of maintenance of law and order.

Recently, party state secretary Bijan Dhar criticised a statement made by the party's tribal wing -- Tripura Rajya Upajati Ganamukti Parishad (TRUGMP) -- president and MP Jitendra Choudhury.

Chowdhury had alleged that a certain section of the police has been supporting communal forces, but Dhar contradicted it by saying the police was doing a good job of maintaining law and order.

Choudhury had a week back demanded that Director General of Police Akhil Kumar Shukla institute a departmental enquiry to identify police personnel allegedly helping communal forces to ransack and damage party offices of the GMP and damage over 60 vehicles during a clash.

The CPI-M parliamentarian further alleged that the police had failed to provide adequate security in sensitive areas and was reluctant take on the goons.

Dhar countered by saying, "There is no such conclusion that some forces within the administration are helping communal and divisive forces. There is no such information; individually some people may be there. Always it was there, it will be there, but nothing to mention anything about this. We have not discussed about this."

"Actually when in front of police and other officials the GMP participants were attacked by hoodlums, especially by the IPFT NC section in different pockets, areas certainly perhaps he has commented in this connection ....."

Dhar also differed on the CPI-M norm that does not allow a leader to contest an election for a third consecutive term.

Citing the example of CPI-M general secretary Sitaram Yechury, he said, "He said, "Contesting election for the third term is not at all an issue for the Central Committee. This is just a general guideline and not a part of the constitution. It was there to ensure purification of the party so that there is no inclination towards parliament. Hence, this was just a norm adopted. It does not mean that to win the election, we have to go by that.