Bandh politics in poll-bound Tripura, security tightened

Agartala, Feb 18 (UNI) Barely a year before the assembly polls, the political climate in Tripura is warming up over the issue of job distribution among unemployed candidates in the education department.

At least four persons, including the headmaster of a government-aided school, were arrested here and in Sonamura in west district for their alleged involvement in accepting bribes from job seekers.

This provided the opposition Congress with an issue to against the ruling CPI(M)-led Left Front government ahead of the 2008 elections.

The Congress and its student wing, the NSUI, went hammer and tongs at the Front government campaigning against the alleged scam.

However, the Left Front too did not remain silent and began countering the allegations.

The Congress and NSUI have alleged that those arrested in connection with the distribution of appointment letters against a huge amount, were close to the Education Minister as well as a number of other ministers. But Chief Minister Manik Sarkar has not made any statement which, according to the opposition, 'proves clearly' the nexus of ministers with the corrupt persons.

The CPI(M) and its student wing, the SFI, however, maintained that the propaganda resorted to by the opposition Congress and its allies, was totally false and their main objective was to create a disturbance.

The assembly elections to 60 seats are nearing and both the ruling Front and Congress are determined on making it a major issue.

The NSUI has called for a 12-hour state-wide Tripura bandh tomorrow to protest the alleged police attack on the activists here last Thursday and has demanded a statement from the chief minister with regard to the job scam, during submission of charter of demands to the state Chief Secretary.

The NSUI is trying to make tomorrow's strike a sucess and its opponent, the SFI is also not lagging behind.

The Congress and the NSUI have accused the ruling party of cheating unemployed persons and that the ruling front was engaged in doing so to "only select its cadres and supporters' families".

The opposition has demanded the cancellation of all appointment letters issued so far to bring 'cleanliness' in job policies and has also sought a statement from the chief minister.

As tensions began building up after Thursday's incident between the security forces and NSUI activists, security measures had been tightened throughout the state to avoid any eventuality during the bandh, a police official told UNI.

''We are not going to take any chances and all possible security measures have been taken to foil any untoward incident before, during and after the 12-hour strike,'' officials said.

While bandh supporters have pledged to make the strike a success, the ruling party cadres have promised to ensure a smooth day tomorrow.

UNI