Agartala, March 23: The concluding day of Tripura’s Budget Session shifted sharply from financial deliberations to issues of governance and accountability, with allegations of land encroachment taking centre stage in the Assembly. Parliamentary Affairs Minister Ratan Lal Nath launched a strong attack on the opposition Communist Party of India (Marxist), accusing it of large-scale illegal occupation of government land during its tenure. Chief Minister Manik Saha backed the claims with specific instances.
The debate was triggered when CPI(M) MLA Shyamal Chakraborty raised concerns over alleged encroachment in Boxanagar, located in Sepahijala district. Responding to the query, Nath said the government has already initiated legal and administrative measures to reclaim the land, including action through the Sub-Divisional Magistrate.
Escalating the attack, Nath alleged that more than 100 kani of government land had been encroached upon during CPI(M)’s rule, with illegal rubber plantations established on such land. He also called for stringent action, including the demolition of what he termed “unauthorised party offices,” even suggesting the use of bulldozers to reclaim public property.
Reinforcing the government’s position, Chief Minister Saha cited a case from Amarpur in Gomati district, where a CPI(M) office had allegedly encroached upon 556 square feet of khas land. He pointed out that eviction orders issued in 2018 were later upheld by the High Court after being challenged by the party, presenting it as evidence of due legal process.
The sharp exchanges highlighted how land management and property rights have become a major flashpoint in Tripura’s political landscape. While the ruling dispensation framed the issue as a matter of restoring public assets and ensuring accountability, the opposition accused the government of selectively targeting it for political purposes.
Political observers note that the debate reflects a broader contest over institutional credibility, with the government positioning itself as a corrective force against past irregularities, even as the opposition seeks to defend its administrative record and political legacy.
