In the wake of continued violence in the state of Tripura, CPI(M) general secretary Sitaram Yechury addressed the media and slammed the Bharatiya Janata Party and the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh.
During the press conference, Yechury said, “BJP thrives on political violence. It is nature of BJP-RSS. It is shameful that Governor is celebrating the attack.”
“Today CPI(M) will hold a protest in front of Lenin statue in Kolkata,” he added.
A statue of communist icon Lenin was pulled down by some people with an excavator machine at Belonia in South Tripura district.
The CPI(M) activists held BJP workers responsible for it. It was reported that attackers pulled the statue down with the chants of ‘Bharat Mata Ki Jai’.
Section 144 has been imposed in several violence-affected areas in Tripura
Talking about the Lenin’s stature, Yechuri said: “Violence in Tripura is a clear demonstration of RSS’ fascist character. If they want to destroy Lenin statues, I want to say the red flag will rise. This is the character of RSS.”
Days after the Left Front was voted out of power in the state, Tripura CPI(M) district secretary Tapas Datta said the five-feet-tall fibre glass statue, which was unveiled by the party’s politburo member Prakash Karat a few months back, was pulled down allegedly by BJP workers on Monday at College Square in Belonia, about 110 kilometre from here.
“After pulling down the statue, ‘Bharat Mata Ki Jai’ slogan was raised,” Datta told PTI.
Superintendent of Police of South Tripura district, Monchak Ipper said the driver of the JCB excavator machine was arrested and later released on bail.
The statue would be handed over to the authorities of Belonia Municipal Corporation, the SP said.