People's Democracy

THE CPI(M) has voiced its sharp reaction to the Assam Rifles’ rejoinder denying the fact of the secret meeting two of its officers held with political leaders. (See People’s Democracy, February 11-17 issue about the details of the said meeting.) The rejoinder appeared in Tripura Observer, a local newspaper, on February 19.

Characterising the rejoinder as based on falsehood, CPI(M) state secretariat member Goutam Das told the press on February 22 that the Assam Rifles authorities have resorted to falsehood to suppress the truth. Their contention that CPI(M)’s remarks cast aspersions on the entire Assam Rifles regiment is extremely objectionable. The CPI(M)’s reaction was expressed in clearest terms. It was not at all about the entire regiment, but about the two officers who secretly parleyed with the Congress-INPT leadership on February 11.

Two other CPI(M) state secretariat members, Bijan Dhar and Tapan Chakraborty, were also present at the press conference.

The Assam Rifles statement was sent only to the Tripura Observer on February 18. It will be noted that the news of the secret meeting of two Assam Rifles officers, Brigadier Satyendra Kumar and Colonel Amit Sharma, with political leaders, had appeared in several local and outside newspapers. Regarding this poll-eve secret meeting, Goutam Das said it is extremely regrettable that they have made a heinous attempt to implicate the entire regiment in their misdeed. In the first place, there is no allegation about the jawans of the 11th battalion to which these officers belong, nor about the other three battalions in Tripura. The remark that "the CPI(M) is trying to malign the Assam Rifles" is therefore baseless.

Goutam Das said the CPI(M) had expressed concern immediately after the publication of the news, and demanded an inquiry into the entire issue. Later on, PCC president Birjit Sinha admitted the fact of the secret meeting at his February 14 press conference, pointing out, however, that he had not gone there with a "suitcase." On behalf of the Left Front, CPI(M) state secretary Baidyanath Majumdar had then demanded an inquiry into this serious allegation by sending a fax message to the Election Commission. It is quite mysterious that a rejoinder was sent from the regiment so many days after the event (on February 18). The rejoinder said Birjit Sinha too "has denied" the fact of the meeting. In fact, Goutam Das pointed out, it was after the rejoinder’s publication Birjit Sinha "denied" the fact of the meeting by calling newsmen at 12.30 p m on February 19.

Goutam Das said the Congress leadership has once again proved that it has no credibility at all. It hoodwinked the journalists by telling them white lies. Das expressed amazement at the rejoinder, which also denied the allegation raised against Brigadier Panwar during the ADC polls last year. He said during the ADC polls Brigadier Panwar had quite openly hobnobbed with IPFT leaders, and participated in a special dinner hosted by them after the IPFT had captured the ADC. Das wondered how the rejoinder could absolve Panwar of those allegations that appeared in newspapers too.

Regarding the rejoinder’s remark that the Assam Rifles does not indulge in petty matters of state level politics, Das wondered whether it is more interested in national and international politics. Vehemently condemning the rejoinder’s comments that a political party habitually blames others after its defeat and that that particular party (the CPI-M) is hatching a conspiracy on the eve of the February 21 by-election, Das wondered whether such a rejoinder could at all be issued by the authorities of a security force.

Replying to a question whether similarly worded statements were issued earlier too, Das said such a thing is not known to have appeared in the press earlier. He said that according to the rejoinder the CPI(M) "is out to malign the regiment." This statement is absolutely false. The CPI(M) has made it abundantly clear that its allegation is not against the entire regiment, but against two officers who met the leaders of a political alliance. Besides, the CPI(M)’s reaction in this regard is absolutely understandable as it is the CPI(M)’s leaders and activists that are the targets of extremist attacks. Over the last four years, the extremists have killed 448 CPI(M) leaders and activists, including a minister and two state committee members. Under the circumstances, Das asked, if the officers of a regiment that is engaged in counter-insurgency operations, parley with any politicians who are allegedly shielding the extremists, is the CPI(M)’s reaction and anxiety abnormal? He also said, just like the Assam Rifles, jawans of other forces like the BSF, CRPF, TSR and state police have been carrying out their patriotic duty and sacrificing their lives. He wondered why the Assam Rifles rejoinder kept mum about the contribution of others. He expressed hope that no jawans of the security forces including the Assam Rifles will be misled into serving nefarious purposes.

Replying to another question, Das said section 123, clause 7 of the Representation of People’s Act clearly stipulates that no officials of armed forces can parley with leaders of any party during the election process. Any such parley would be a violation of the code of conduct, and deemed as corrupt practice.

Das said the Congress leadership has not derived any lessons from the results of its unholy alliances. Even as the entire world opinion is vociferous against terrorism, the Tripura leadership of the Congress has allied with the terrorists. He said the Congress has turned itself into a party of criminals, and has been resorting to corrupt practices. It took the help of extremists in 1988 as well. In 1993, leaders like Santosh Mohan Deb and Samir Barman were found to have parleyed with officers on election duty, and that was why the Election Commission of India postponed the assembly elections all over the state. Once again, the Congress leaders in the state have parleyed with the Assam Rifles officers with the same purpose. Das was confident that the Tripura electorate would give a fitting reply to the corrupt Congress.