The Crossbill News Desk
The demolition carried out by the Agartala Municipal Corporation (AMC) at Lake Chowmuhani market in Agartala, between Wednesday night and early Thursday, has drawn sharp criticism from the Opposition CPI(M).
Former Chief Minister and CPI(M) leader Manik Sarkar, who visited the site on Thursday, condemned the action, alleging that traders were not given prior notice before their shops were razed. Sarkar further accused authorities of looting materials from demolished shops and demanded financial assistance for the affected traders.
“Those were temporary shops. After visiting the area, we found that they had demolished their shops and also looted materials. These traders should be provided financial support so that they could look after their families,” The Indian Express quoted Sarkar as saying.
Calling for continued protests, he urged Left Front activists to ensure that those displaced are provided with alternative arrangements.
“I also ask Left Front activists to continue their movement till those traders are provided alternative arrangements,” Sarkar added.
Leader of Opposition Jitendra Chaudhury, who visited the market on Friday, termed the eviction as “inhuman” and vowed to raise the issue in the upcoming Assembly session.
He criticized the government, stating that many small traders across the state and country operate from temporary structures due to the government’s failure to provide them with designated spaces.
“This kind of incident is inhuman. This government speaks about Viksit Bharat, and sushasan. Not only at Lake Chowmuhani market, several people at many places in the state and the country are doing their business by erecting temporary structures on government land as the government failed to provide an alternative arrangement for them,” Chaudhury told the newspaper.
While affirming that the Left is not against development, Chaudhury accused the BJP-led government of resorting to unjust actions under the guise of progress.
“We are not against development. But this is inhuman and we shall raise our voice against it,” he added.
Meanwhile, Tripura Chief Minister Manik Saha defended the move, stating that the eviction drive was necessary for the area's development and should not be politicized. Responding to the backlash, Saha asserted that similar eviction drives had taken place during the Left Front’s rule as well.
AMC Mayor Dipak Majumder, defending the eviction, claimed that complaints had been received about traders obstructing roads. Following two surveys, authorities identified nearly 100 illegal shops operating without trade licenses, with some attempting to construct permanent structures along the Katakhal River embankment.
Majumder insisted that discussions had taken place with the Bazar Samiti before the drive and assured that evicted traders would be given opportunities to conduct business legally.
Taking a swipe at the CPI(M), Majumder remarked that the Left had previously backed similar evictions but was now opposing the move.
“They supported illegal traders who were evicted earlier. I don’t know what they will say now. I hope they will cooperate. The state government and AMC are jointly working to keep the markets clean,” Majumder told The Indian Express.
The eviction drive at Lake Chowmuhani follows similar operations at Battala and Maharajganj markets in Agartala, highlighting the ongoing tensions between the ruling BJP and the opposition CPI(M) over urban development policies and the rights of small traders.
Former Chief Minister and CPI(M) leader Manik Sarkar, who visited the site on Thursday, condemned the action, alleging that traders were not given prior notice before their shops were razed. Sarkar further accused authorities of looting materials from demolished shops and demanded financial assistance for the affected traders.
“Those were temporary shops. After visiting the area, we found that they had demolished their shops and also looted materials. These traders should be provided financial support so that they could look after their families,” The Indian Express quoted Sarkar as saying.
Calling for continued protests, he urged Left Front activists to ensure that those displaced are provided with alternative arrangements.
“I also ask Left Front activists to continue their movement till those traders are provided alternative arrangements,” Sarkar added.
Leader of Opposition Jitendra Chaudhury, who visited the market on Friday, termed the eviction as “inhuman” and vowed to raise the issue in the upcoming Assembly session.
He criticized the government, stating that many small traders across the state and country operate from temporary structures due to the government’s failure to provide them with designated spaces.
“This kind of incident is inhuman. This government speaks about Viksit Bharat, and sushasan. Not only at Lake Chowmuhani market, several people at many places in the state and the country are doing their business by erecting temporary structures on government land as the government failed to provide an alternative arrangement for them,” Chaudhury told the newspaper.
While affirming that the Left is not against development, Chaudhury accused the BJP-led government of resorting to unjust actions under the guise of progress.
“We are not against development. But this is inhuman and we shall raise our voice against it,” he added.
Meanwhile, Tripura Chief Minister Manik Saha defended the move, stating that the eviction drive was necessary for the area's development and should not be politicized. Responding to the backlash, Saha asserted that similar eviction drives had taken place during the Left Front’s rule as well.
AMC Mayor Dipak Majumder, defending the eviction, claimed that complaints had been received about traders obstructing roads. Following two surveys, authorities identified nearly 100 illegal shops operating without trade licenses, with some attempting to construct permanent structures along the Katakhal River embankment.
Majumder insisted that discussions had taken place with the Bazar Samiti before the drive and assured that evicted traders would be given opportunities to conduct business legally.
Taking a swipe at the CPI(M), Majumder remarked that the Left had previously backed similar evictions but was now opposing the move.
“They supported illegal traders who were evicted earlier. I don’t know what they will say now. I hope they will cooperate. The state government and AMC are jointly working to keep the markets clean,” Majumder told The Indian Express.
The eviction drive at Lake Chowmuhani follows similar operations at Battala and Maharajganj markets in Agartala, highlighting the ongoing tensions between the ruling BJP and the opposition CPI(M) over urban development policies and the rights of small traders.
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