BJP, CPI (M) SPAR OVER TRIPURA TEMPLE

The ruling BJP and the opposition Communist Party of India (Marxist) are at loggerheads over construction of a Ram temple on land where a memorial of local tribal hero Mohini Tripura was built last year.

The CPI (M) has accused the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) of laying the foundation stone for the temple in Belonia’s Motai village in South Tripura district, 110 km away from Agartala, in place of a memorial of an indigenous woman who had laid down her life in a rebellion against the erstwhile Congress government in1968.

Mohini Tripura was gunned down while opposing the then government decision to stop jhum cultivation in the forests, an agricultural practice of the indigenous people.

The memorial of Mohini Tripura was built last year to commemorate her 50th death anniversary on the land donated by one Haradhan Baidya, who recently died of cancer, a CPI (M) leader said.

The erstwhile Left government had also named a village and a school after Mohini Tripura.

“We lodged a complaint at Belonia police station on October 15, a day after the foundation stone for the temple was laid. We have not received any response from the police so far,” said Tapas Datta, a CPI (M) leader of Belonia.

Belonia officer in-charge Rajib Debnath said: “We registered an FIR under Section 448/427/34 of Indian Penal Code. We are investigating.”

The CPI (M)’s indigenous wing – Tripura Upajati Ganamukti Parishad (TUGMP) – plans to launch a statewide campaign to oppose the foundation of the temple.

“The current coalition government is trying to play a divisive game using religion as the weapon.,” said the TUGMP chief Jitendra Chaudhury.

Notwithstanding the CPM’s opposition, a BJP leader said the temple will be constructed on the land donated by its owner.

AGARTALA: THE CPI (M) HAS ACCUSED BJP OF LAYING FOUNDATION STONE FOR TEMPLE IN PLACE OF A MEMORIAL OF AN INDIGENOUS WOMAN WHO HAD LAID DOWN HER LIFE IN A REBELLION