Agartala, Nov 11 : Leader of the Opposition and CPI(M) state secretary Jitendra Chaudhury on Wednesday demanded legal action against BJP MLA Tofajjal Hossain over his alleged derogatory remarks against the tribal community, asserting that no individual should be spared because of political affiliation or position.
Reacting to a video clip circulating on social media, Chaudhury expressed strong objection to the comments allegedly made by the BJP legislator targeting the CPI(M) and TIPRA Motha, claiming that the language used was offensive to the indigenous community.
He said such remarks were unbecoming of an elected representative who had taken an oath under the Constitution.
Tripura has a long tradition of peaceful coexistence and mutual respect among people belonging to different communities, languages and faiths, including tribal and non-tribal populations, the CPI(M) leader said.
Any attempt to demean a particular community could undermine social harmony and weaken the state's tradition of communal understanding, he added.
Drawing a parallel with a recent racial harassment case involving Delhi-based content creator Amir Shokeen, Chaudhury said law enforcement agencies had taken action in that matter despite the accused subsequently issuing an apology.
He questioned why a different standard should apply in the case involving the BJP legislator if the allegations of offensive and discriminatory remarks were found to be true.
The Opposition leader maintained that the law must be enforced uniformly, irrespective of whether the person concerned was an elected representative or an ordinary citizen.
He warned that failure to act in such cases could send a wrong message to society and adversely affect relations between different communities, besides hurting the aspirations of future generations.
Chaudhury also appealed to BJP leaders to distance themselves from the alleged remarks and publicly oppose statements that could hurt the sentiments of tribal people.
Safeguarding the dignity and honour of indigenous communities should be a collective responsibility that transcends political differences, he said.
The CPI(M) leader urged Chief Minister and Home Minister Manik Saha to intervene in the matter and ensure that the allegations were properly examined.
He demanded that appropriate legal action be initiated against the BJP MLA if any wrongdoing was established, reiterating that constitutional values and the dignity of all communities must be protected.
