Tripura BJP VP: Motha chief spreading hatred among tribals

Agartala: A day before the crucial elections to the Tripura East (tribal reserved) parliamentary constituency, BJP state unit vice-president Patal Kanya Jamatia launched a scathing attack on the party’s new ally — TIPRA Motha chief Pradyot Kishore Debbarman.Slamming Pradyot, BJP vice-president Patal Kanya Jamatia urged the voters not to trust the royal family scion. She accused Pradyot of betraying the people who supported his movement for the empowerment and development of tribals in the past and spreading hatred among tribals in the state.Soon after the conclusion of the campaign period on Wednesday, Jamaita lashed out at Pradyot, urging the tribal people to respond to what she described as cheating in politics.“Pradyot must apologise for spreading hatred between the tribals and the non-tribals,” she said, adding, Pradyot has been playing the role of a ‘middleman’ and abusing the BJP until recently. Now, he has changed colours and allied with the BJP for his narrow ends.Referring to Pradyot, she said a man who does not give respect to people can do nothing for the people of the state, especially the tribals. “As the vice-president of BJP, it is my duty to protect the interests of the party and caution the leadership against putting too much trust in Pradyot, who has only his agenda to fulfil,” Jamatia added.“I am a faithful soldier of the party and a dedicated follower of Modi ji, that is why I am saying all this. Pradyot can do no good to the state or even the tribals. I must try to protect the interests of my party,” Jamatia told the media.However, BJP state president Rajib Bhattacharjee disclaimed Jamatia’s stand and said, “The party doesn’t endorse these views. Such statements are unbecoming from the vice president of the BJP. A show-cause notice has already been served to her seeking a reply on the statement within five days.”Just a week before the announcement of the poll schedule, TIPRA Motha — the second largest party of the state— signed an agreement with the Centre and the state government pledging to resolve the issue of tribal empowerment amicably and to abstain from any form of agitation. Following this, TIPRA-Motha joined the BJP-led coalition government in March.As per an alliance agreement, the party has sacrificed the Tripura East seat to Pradyot’s elder sister Kriti Singh Debbarman. However, the decision of the BJP’s central leadership was not well received by the state leaders, which was visible during the election campaign.