Trinamool parliamentarian Aparupa Poddar’s aide was injured in the attack.
Kolkata:
Two Trinamool Congress MPs allegedly came under attack in Tripura twice today as they were driving back to Agartala from a party programme in the districts.
Parliamentarians Aparupa Poddar and Dola Sen said the cars they were travelling were targeted near South Tripura district’s Belonia town about 70 kilometres from the capital.
Bricks were hurled at them, with windscreens and other windows of he vehicle smashed. An assistant of Ms Sen, identified as Zakir, received a head injury. The MPs claimed the assailants were carrying BJP flags.
West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee called up Ms Sen on her phone and said ‘jungle raj’ will not be allowed to have the last say.
The two MPs, along with Zakir, are flying back to Kolkata for medical attention.
The BJP in Tripura has denied any role in the incident. Mr Nabadal Banik, BJP leader, said the whole thing was “a drama” enacted by Trinamool to get media attention and to create trouble in the state.
The alleged attack came a day after a press conference held by the Trinamool in Agartala in which Ms Poddar, an MP from Arambagh, was among others who taunted Chief Minister Biplab Kumar Deb saying his days in the position were now numbered.
Today in Press Conference with other MPs in #Tripura.@BjpBiplab your count down started. #tripuradeservebetterpic.twitter.com/ru4InK75jF
— Aparupa Poddar (@AparupaPoddar) August 14, 2021
The two MPs are a part of a team in Tripura to mark Independence Day in that state and to celebrate Khela Hobe Divas, which the Trinamool is observing on August 16 ostensibly to promote sports. However, it is also the party’s push for political space beyond West Bengal.
Trinamool functionaries, including senior leaders like National General Secretary Abhishek Banerjee, have in recent days claimed to have come under attack from BJP supporters in Tripura.
On August 8, Mr Banerjee, nephew of Chief Minister Banerjee, visited the northeastern state following reported attacks on his party leaders. While even the CPIM has condemned such attacks, the BJP has denied being involved in such incidents.
Mr Banerjee has said his party will not be intimidated.
“The goons of BJP Tripura have shown their true colours. This…reveals the ‘goonda raj’ in Tripura under Biplab’s (Chief Minister Biplab Kumar Deb) government…Your threats and attacks only prove your inhumanity. Do what you can. Trinamool will not budge an inch,” he tweeted on August 8.
His convoy was attacked by alleged BJP workers during his earlier visit to Tripura on August 2. He even tweeted a video of the assault.
The TMC turned the spotlight on Tripura after 18 associates of poll strategist Prashant Kishor were allegedly detained in an Agartala hotel on charge of violating Covid norms. The team had gone there on assignment from Trinamool to examine the ground political situation in the poll-bound state.
