BJP demands AFSPA in Tripura as Left accuses party of unleashing hostility

Agartala: Citing last week’s clashes with CPM workers, the BJP on Monday demanded the imposition of AFSPA in Tripura while the ruling Left accused it of unleashing hostility to discredit the government in view of 2018 assembly polls. The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) raised the demand for promulgation of the Armed Forces (Special Powers) Act (AFSPA) following clashes between its workers and those of the ruling Communist Party of India-Marxist (CPM) in a few places in southern Tripura since last week. “During the past few days, CPM activists attacked BJP workers in some places in southern Tripura, killing one and injuring 50 others. The CPM used the police against BJP workers in these incidents,” BJP state vice-president Subal Bhowmik told reporters. [caption id=“attachment_3747167” align=“alignleft” width=“380”]  Representational image. Agencies[/caption] He said his party has demanded that the Centre promulgate the disturbed areas act in Tripura to maintain peace. “Our state president Biplab Kumar Deb went to Delhi on Sunday to apprise the Union home minister about the state’s situation and to reiterate the demand for imposition of disturbed areas act,” he added. The Armed Forces (Special Powers) Act (AFSPA), popularly known as “disturbed areas act” empowers the Indian Armed Forces to maintain law and order and to arrest anyone without prior notice. The CPM has strongly criticised the BJP for raising the demand ahead of the assembly elections, due in February next year. “The BJP workers on the pretext of a concocted issue are attacking CPM workers and damaging government property leading to deterioration of the law and order situation in some places,” CPM state secretary Bijan Dhar said. According to the Left leader, several CPM workers were injured in the BJP attack. Dhar, also a CPM Central Committee member, said: “As the BJP thinks that they would not be able to defeat CPM in 2018’s assembly elections they have started various types of conspiracies against the Left Front government.” “The people of Tripura will not allow any kind of conspiracy against the present Left Front government,” the CPM leader warned.