AGARTALA, October 23 (TIWN): Recently Tripura is in discussion topics at the national level not for her natural resources and assets but for the organized crimes being conducted by some officials who are known to be very close to Chief Minister Manik Sarkar. And in return for their loyalty Chief Minister too is doing his best to protect those officials. But after continuous publication scams news and subsequently a few of the recent steps taken by Manik Sarkar and state govt , it looks like as if Manik Sarkar is someone with 'Tughluqian' nature is now at the helm of administration. It is he whose 'Honesty (?) and white image (?)' was the main agenda of CPI(M) during the 2013 Assembly Election and practically during the last 10 years. Recently this fake ' Honesty and White Image' has been nakedly exposed in almost all local media and prominent national media.

It is because of his recent activities and silence over the ongoing scams that is really fanning the fire. How shameful it is for a Chief Minister to use Govt officials to issue orders to buy his book ' Atit Diner Smriti Katha' from RMSA fund and that too for such a book that is not at all related with the welfare of students! And after this when the reports of scams in different departments and the looting of Centrally Sponsored funds are now the 'HEADLINES' Manik Sarkar , instead of taking any step against corrupt officials and party leaders , used his bombshell against those who actually found out such scams. 

Some of the recent  'Tughlaqian' activities of the state govt led by Manik Sarkar are as follows:-

1) On June 2, 2014 Addl Secretary, School Education Department Dilip Kumar Debbarma issued a letter vide NO.F.19(38)-SE/RMSA/2010(Loose)  to all 8 DEOs to procure books - 'Atit Diner Smriti' written by Chief Minister Manik Sarkar and 'Eker Stage ek Melay egara' written by the then Chief Secretary S K Panda from the Annual Grant of RMSA

      When the news published, Dy Director Amabalika Datta, who was not at all involved in issuing this letter was suspended. But this only paved the way for more significant issue as being angry with the attitude of state govt , some top level employees of the department leaked the Rs 5 crore RMSA scam.

2) Internal Audit Report(IAR) of Bishalgarh R D Block revealed massive Rs 17 crore MGNREGA scam. Director Audit , found misappropriation of MGNREGA fund and accordingly BDO Bimal Chakraborty and others were accused. On 19/05/2014 Director, Audit sent the report to the Finance Ministry saying," The irregularities in SL no1,2 and 6 are very serious nature involving Rs 57.04 lakhs and it is proposed that responsibilities may be fixed and recovered the missappropriated amount from the concerned staff." On the same day Finance Minister Badal Chowdhury sent the Audit Report to Chief Secretary and Chief Minister's Office(CMO) vide No.F.2632/Min/Fin/2014 giving a special Note saying," An FIR should be lodged against the Govt staff i.e, Programme Officer (BDO Bimal) and other implementing officers of Laxmibill Gram Panchayat under Bishalgarh R D Block with in 7 days by the R.D.Deptt for misappropriation of Rs 57.04 lakh of public exchequer Govt fund." Again the then Chief Secretary S K Panda too wrote back," This is a serious matter . The dept may be advised to lodge FIR for recovery of that and initiate disciplinary proceedings for recovery of the loss caused to Govt against concern Govt staff."

     On 23rd May Chief Minister reshuffled the Cabinet and Badal Chowdhury has been removed from Finance Ministry and and in his place Bhanu Lal Saha has been given the charge of Finance Ministry. But this too proved boomerang as some top level Melarmath leaders leaked the IAR to media and immediately it became absolutely clear that Manik Sarkar intentionally removed Badal Chowdhury to protect his specially favoured and corrupt officer Bimal Chakraborty.

3) In the Rs 5 crore RMSA case the charge  'Prevention of Corruption Act' has not only applied against Arnab Chakraborty but also against his mother Kajal Rani Chakraborty and his wife Sangeeta Chakraborty. But interestingly the same act was not charged against Rs 17 crore MGNREGA scam star Bimal Chakraborty as well his wife Tundra Chakraborty and his brothers like DYFI State Secretary Amal Chakraborty. Even none of his relatives is even interrogated yet.

4) In RMSA case police succeeded in arresting Arnab Chakraborty from Kolkata but though Bimal Chakraborty is hiding in his relative Santanu Chakraborty's residence in A D Nagar,  he is yet to be arrested.

4) In the TATA Kalibari incident police took no step initially though Soma Majumdar was tortured brutally in broad dayight by the women leaders of Manik Sarkar's party. But the CM controlled Police did not even agree to register FIR. Here also Governor P B Acharya after coming to Tripura called the victim in Governor's house and asked IG and Tripura Woman Commission Chairperson to take immediate action. And with in 24 hours police did the first arrest.

5) On 20th October Additional Secretary, Govt of Tripura issued a notification vide No.F.6(1)-GA(P & T) /13 stating specifically ," In the interest of Public service the Governor is pleased to order as follows with immediate effect and until further orders:

 i) " Sri Lalnuna Rojhum IAS, Director ,Small Savings ,Group Insurance and Institutional Finance with additional charge of Director of Audit is transferred and listed as OSD SIPARD.

ii)  Chief MInister's close aide Sri Sahadeb Das, IAS Additional Secretary GA(SA) Department is transferred and listed in Institutional Finance, Agartala. He will also hold the charge of Director, Audit  in addition. ...."

       Now the question that arises from it obvious. Is the Governor indeed pleased even though every transfer letter has that formality of mentioning Governor's name ? Interestingly the order was issued during the second hour of 20th October. The Governor was not even in Agartala as he left Agartala around 12 noon and arrived Udaipur and even did not return back. Is the matter indeed communicated to the Governor. If so how can the Governor be pleased to remove such an efficient official especially after skilfully handling to find many scams. Reacting to such activities a top level CPI(M) state committee leader told TIWN," There is no doubt that in recent times the image of the state govt has been severely damaged and Chief Minister Manik Sarkar's honesty too seems to be fake these days. Actually all these are now being taken place as CMO is very weak and everything seems to be a 'HARAKIRI'. " When asked to comment whether there is any danger for the Govt  the leader said," Manik Sarkar probably visualised that his bed is near. And when a man, after enjoying over all authority and popularity for almost near 2 decades, is being targeted by media, surely he too will be a bit tensed from inside. And now his acts are almost similar to what the TMC supremo Mamata Banerjee is doing in West Bengal. "  Indeed, after more than 660 years of the so called ' Pagla Raja' Bin Tughlaq and his activities seem to be repeated in a small state Tripura by none other than the top most ruler of the state.

Moral downfall began long back for Manik Sarkar, now actively backing his close coterie involved in corruptions - it is hightime that State CPIM should convene an emergency meeting, remove corrupt CM and his associates  from power, elect someone efficient like  Badal Chowdhury as Chief Minister, bring back efficient Ministers with proven track record like Jiten Chaudhury, Pabitra Kar back to Ministry to save Left Front Government from further downfall. State CPIM should also sack Bimal's brother DYFI State Secretary Amal Chakraborty, Corrupt Bhanu Lal and every corrupt associate of Manik with immediate effect.  Cancers of corruption created by Manik's close associates in State CPIM driving Party towards massive destruction in Tripura.