Tripura BJP legislator ‘denies’ aid to ailing boy, kicks up row

Agartala: BJP MLA from Boxanagar in Sepahijala district, Tafazzal Hossain, has become embroiled in a controversy after allegedly denying assistance to an impoverished family seeking urgent medical help.Known for his affluent lifestyle and organising expensive annual cricket tournaments and various other community events costing crores of rupees, Hossain's claim of being "poor" and unable to provide financial aid to the family has triggered significant backlash, including within BJP ranks.Reports indicate that 15-year-old Purna Das from Ward No. 6 of Boxanagar Kalsimura has been battling a severe illness for several years. His monthly medical expenses have increased to Rs 7000, which his parents are unable to afford.His father, Sudhangshu Das, works as a daily wage labourer, while his mother, Jayanti Sarkar, has been actively seeking assistance for her son's treatment. In her quest for medical support, Jayanti Sarkar visited MLA Tafazzal Hossain with her son, seeking assistance.The MLA's response was surprisingly dismissive, as he reportedly claimed to be ‘poor' and directed her to approach either chief minister Manik Saha or former chief minister and Rajya Sabha MP Biplab Kumar Deb for help.However, Hossain denied the allegation and said, "The claimant twisted the fact to grab the media attention. I'm helping the people in distress as much as possible, not only from my constituency, but also from surrounding areas."The incident gained widespread attention on social media platforms, causing significant displeasure among BJP leadership.