AGARTALA: In a blistering attack on the Congress party and the Jharkhand Mukti Morcha (JMM) coalition government in Jharkhand, Tripura Transport and Tourism Minister Sushanta Chowdhury accused the opposition of practicing gross “double standards” regarding student protests and using youth for political gain.
Addressing a press conference at the Dr. Shyama Prasad Mukherjee Hall in the BJP State Headquarters (Kushabhau Bhavan) on Tuesday, Minister Sushanta Chowdhury voiced full moral support for the ongoing student movement in Ranchi and demanded that the JMM-Congress regime immediately fulfill their legitimate demands.
Key Takeaways from the Press Conference
- Moral Support to Students: Chowdhury affirmed that the BJP stands firmly behind the students of Jharkhand, describing their demands—transparent recruitment, a corruption-free system, and safeguarding the future of youth—as purely democratic and constitutional.
- Exposing Opposition’s “Double Standards”: The Minister slammed Congress for changing its stance across state borders. “Congress follows one policy in Delhi, another in Bengal, a different policy in Tripura, another in Jharkhand, and yet another in Kerala. This double-faced politics is why they are losing public trust,” he said.
- Critique of Rahul Gandhi’s Silence: Chowdhury targeted Rahul Gandhi for remaining silent on the police crackdown and alleged harassment of female protesters in Ranchi. He stated that if Gandhi genuinely cared for student rights, he would challenge his alliance partner JMM instead of using students to “bake political bread”.
- Questioning CPI(M) Leader Jitendra Chaudhury: The Minister questioned the Leader of the Opposition (LoP) in Tripura, Jitendra Chaudhury, asking why he traveled to Delhi regarding student issues but refrained from visiting Ranchi to support the protesting students in JMM-ruled Jharkhand.
- NEET-UG & Anti-Paper Leak Legislation: Defending the Narendra Modi-led Central government, Chowdhury emphasized that the Union government enacted stringent anti-paper leak legislation to protect students’ futures. He noted that Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan prioritized integrity, whereas the opposition tried to create lawlessness in Parliament under the guise of the NEET-UG issue.
