Agartala, February 27, 2025: In a scathing attack on the BJP-led coalition government, Tripura’s former Chief Minister and CPI(M) Politburo member Manik Sarkar on Thursday condemned the eviction drive at Lake Chowmuhani market in Agartala city, calling it an “inhumane act” that has devastated the lives of poor traders. Visiting the site of the demolition, he met the affected shopkeepers and assured them of his party’s support.

“The BJP government has no humanity at all. These traders belong to lower-class families who survive by working as daily wage earners. Destroying their only means of livelihood with bulldozers, without any prior discussion or rehabilitation, is nothing short of cruelty,” Sarkar said while addressing reporters at the site.

The eviction drive carried out by the Agartala Municipal Corporation (AMC) saw multiple shops being razed to the ground leaving large number of traders in distress. Sarkar lashed out at the government, questioning its intentions behind such an aggressive move. “If the government had a development plan, they should have first ensured proper rehabilitation for these traders. Instead, they acted with sheer arrogance, crushing the livelihoods of these poor families overnight,” he stated.

Sarkar further alleged that the AMC acted without consulting the traders, violating all ethical and humane considerations. “A responsible administration should have held discussions with the affected people. But here, the government has functioned in a dictatorial manner. Their actions prove that they have no concern for the struggles of the common man,” he said.

Accusing the ruling BJP of being “insensitive and authoritarian,” the veteran Left leader remarked, “This government thrives on bulldozer politics. They believe in destruction, not development.” He added that such actions would not go unnoticed by the people, warning that the government would have to answer for its actions.

The eviction at Lake Chowmuhani has sparked widespread outrage among the affected traders, who now face uncertainty about their future. Many have demanded immediate rehabilitation and compensation, fearing they have lost their sole source of income.