Idol vandalism case: “immediate legal action could easily control the situation”: Manik Sarkar

Agartala, Jan 04, 2025, By Our Correspondent

Agartala: Jan 04: Former Chief Minister and Politburo member, Manik Sarkar, addressed a pressing issue in Tripura during his participation in a blood donation camp on Saturday. Responding to a journalist's question, Sarkar expressed concern over the recent trend of idol vandalism and the deliberate efforts to create conflicts between two communities, which, he noted, were previously unheard of in the state. He emphasized that these actions are now being strategically fostered with the aim of disrupting peace and harmony.

Sarkar stated that immediate legal action could easily control the situation, particularly against those who are involved in idol vandalism. However, he pointed out that it is not enough for the government to merely condemn such acts. The government must take effective action to curb these incidents. He highlighted that, over the past few months, political forces have been attempting to create divisions among the people, which has led to increased discord and conflicts.

According to Sarkar, the root cause of these divisions is the growing unemployment rate, rising prices, and decreasing purchasing power, which have led to reduced income and an inability to afford basic necessities. In order to divert attention from these issues, certain groups are allegedly trying to instigate conflicts between people. Furthermore, Sarkar noted that attempts are being made to create divisions within the indigenous communities, a practice that has historical roots in feudal governance.

He urged the current Chief Minister to take decisive action, particularly by calling together leaders of different organizations to ensure unity, peace, and communal harmony in the state. Sarkar stressed the importance of addressing these issues to prevent further escalation of tensions, as seen in areas like Gandachara, Rani Bazar, Kadamtala, Panisagar, and more recently, Sonamura.