Agartala: The video garb of Tripura minister Manoj Kanti Deb allegedly groping a female ministerial colleague during PM Narendra Modi’s rally here Saturday has snowballed into a major controversy. The opposition Left Front in the state has demanded an immediate sacking of the minister while the BJP has said that the ‘Left parties are playing dirty politics’.
In the video which has gone viral Deb can be seen touching the waist of Social Welfare and Social Education Minister Santana Chakma on stage in presence of Modi, Tripura Chief Minister Biplab Kanti Deb and other dignitaries.
The Left Front has taken a strong stand on this development and has said that Deb be charged with sexual harassment and be ‘sacked immediately’.
“Monoj Kanti Deb must be sacked and be arrested for touching the woman minister in an extremely indecent manner,” Left Front convener Bijan Dhar told the media here Monday.
“The male minister has publicly harmed the modesty, sanctity and dignity of the lone woman minister of Tripura at a public platform where the Prime Minister, the Chief Minister and other important personalities were present,” Dhar added.
Adding more spice to the development, Dhar alleged an increasing number of women are being raped, murdered and kidnapped since the BJP-led government came to power in Tripura 11 months ago.
Deb who is the Food, Youth Affairs and Sports Minister of Tripura, refused to comment on the incident when contacted.
Tripura BJP spokesperson Nabendu Bhattacharjee, however, stated that Left Front on not getting any issue to raise any storm has now embarked on ‘character assassination’.
“The woman minister has never made any statement and complaint on the issue raised by the Left parties. Why are the Left parties doing this dirty politics,” he asked.
Agencies
