BJP Tripura MLA calls for ‘Talibani style’ attacks on TMC

Arun Chandra Bhowmik made the purported comments during a speech on Wednesday at a felicitation programme for Union minister Pratima Bhowmik in Agartala. A video of the speech went viral on social media and provoked outrage

The Trinamool Congress (TMC) on Thursday demanded the arrest of Tripura Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) legislator Arun Chandra Bhowmik for allegedly asking his supporters to launch “Talibani style” attacks on leaders belonging to the West Bengal ruling party whenever they arrive at Agartala airport.

Arun made the purported remarks, a video of which went viral on social media, at a felicitation programme in Agartala. (Twitter)

Alleging harassment at a hotel in Agartala on Tuesday night by BJP leaders following Arun’s purported remark, TMC leader Subal Bhowmik said: “Our West Bengal leaders were harassed last night at a hotel in Agartala where they are staying. The incident happened after the BJP MLA’s threatening speech. We demand the MLA be arrested soon,” he said.

Subal added that the party plans to file a complaint against the legislator fromAgartala.“We will write to the director-general of (Tripura) police about all the attacks on our leaders and file a complaint against the legislator,” he said.

Arun made the purported remarks, a video of which went viral on social media, at a felicitation programme in Agartala. Accusing the TMC of trying to dislodge the BJP government in Tripura, the legislator said: “...we need to attack them (TMC leaders) in Talibani style. We need to attack them once they land... We will protect our government led by (chief minister) Biplab Deb with each drop of blood.”

At least 14 TMC leaders were allegedly attacked by BJP workers and arrested on August 7 when they were on a visit to the state for preparations for the assembly elections next year. The incident had prompted TMC national general secretary Abhishek Banerjee to rush to Tripura along with Bengal minister Bratya Basu, Rajya Sabha member Dola Sen and TMC state general secretary Kunal Ghosh to bring back the leaders.

Prior to that, 23 members of political strategist Prashant Kishor’s Indian-Political Action Committee (I-PAC) team were booked and asked to stay inside a hotel in Agartala for violating Covid-19 norms in July.

Reacting to Arun’s remark, TMC leader Ritabrata Banerjee said: “We condemned the way Arun Chandra Bhowmik said to attack our party leaders who are coming from West Bengal in Talibani style. When the Taliban (after returning to power in Afghanistan) being criticised in the entire world, a BJP MLA is asking to attack Trinamool Congress leaders. We want to know whether the BJP supports Taliban and has sophisticated weapons like them.”

BJP spokesperson Nabendu Bhattacharya said he was not aware of the legislator’s remarks. HT tried to reach out to Bhowmik but could not get a response immediately.

Subal Bhowmik, the TMC Tripura unit leader, said they will file a complaint against the BJP legislator soon. “ We will write to the Director General of Police about all the attacks on our leaders and will file a complaint against the BJP legislator, “ said Subal.