Tripura Assembly Erupts in Chaos Over Minister's Alleged Racist Comment
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Synopsis
The Tripura Assembly faced significant disruption as opposition CPI-M members protested and walked out over Minister Ratan Lal Nath's alleged racist remarks. Leader of the Opposition Jitendra Chaudhury has filed a privilege motion against the minister, highlighting concerns over racial insensitivity during a critical budget discussion.
Key Takeaways
- Tripura Assembly experiences significant turmoil.
- Opposition CPI-M members demand an apology.
- Privilege motion submitted by Jitendra Chaudhury.
- Minister Ratan Lal Nath refutes claims of racism.
- Incident occurred during budget discussions for 2025-26.
Agartala, March 25 (NationPress) The Tripura Assembly was engulfed in turmoil on Tuesday as members of the opposition CPI-M staged a walkout in response to Parliamentary Affairs Minister Ratan Lal Nath's alleged racist remarks directed at the Leader of the Opposition (LoP), Jitendra Chaudhury.
Following this incident, the LoP submitted a privilege motion against Minister Nath.
“This constitutes a clear breach of privilege committed by Minister Nath during my address regarding the budget for the year 2025-26,” Chaudhury, who is also a prominent tribal leader in Tripura, remarked in his privilege motion presented to Assembly Speaker Biswa Bandhu Sen.
Disorder erupted on the third day of the ongoing week-long budget session after CPI-M MLAs protested in the well of the house, demanding an apology from the Parliamentary Affairs Minister for his purportedly racist comments towards the LoP.
Minister Nath made the contentious statement on Monday while Chaudhury was discussing the budget.
Senior CPI-M MLA Shyamal Chakraborty was the first to demand an apology from the minister, and his fellow party members subsequently joined in, rushing to the well of the house.
However, both the Speaker and the Minister refuted such claims, with Nath asserting that he had no intention of offending the opposition leader's community, and that his remarks were aimed at highlighting the mindset of the CPI-M party.
After the Speaker disregarded the opposition's demands and continued with the assembly proceedings, CPI-M MLAs exited the House in protest.
Chaudhury, who has previously served as a minister and is the CPI-M Tripura state Secretary, stated in his privilege motion: “According to Rule-173 of the Rules of Procedure and Conduct of Business in the Tripura Legislative Assembly, I am lodging a Privilege Motion against Ratan Lal Nath, Hon'ble Member (Hon'ble Minister for Parliamentary Affairs) regarding the passing of highly derogatory and racist remarks -- 'Jiten babu' has showcased his tribe.”
The privilege motion added: “These remarks are not only derogatory and offensive but are also racially insulting to me, my family, and my community. This is a clear breach of privilege committed by Minister Ratan Lal Nath while I was initiating my discussion on the Budget.”
