Reported by Mrinal Kanti Banik
Agartala: Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) MLA from Boxanagar, Tafajjal Hossain, on Tuesday issued an unconditional apology to the Tiprasa community over his alleged derogatory remarks about their food habits. The apology came amid mounting political criticism and a police complaint filed by the Tribal Youth Federation (TYF).
The controversy erupted after a video featuring the legislator’s remarks during an election campaign at Tamsabari under Sonamura subdivision circulated publicly. His comments drew sharp reactions from Tipra Motha founder Pradyot Kishore Manikya Debbarma and CPI(M) state secretary Jitendra Chaudhury.
Addressing a press conference, Hossain expressed regret over his statement and apologised unconditionally to members of the tribal community. His response followed protests and demands from various quarters for action against him.
Earlier, the BJP legislator had defended himself, claiming that a portion of his speech had been circulated deliberately without its full context. He accused the CPI(M) of attempting to distort his remarks as part of a political conspiracy. During his defence, he had also referred to the Muslim community.
Meanwhile, Pradyot Kishore Manikya Debbarma, in a video message, called on Hossain to apologise to the people of Tripura for his alleged remarks against the indigenous community.
Pradyot said that although he was no longer actively involved in politics, he would continue to speak out whenever the dignity, identity and rights of indigenous people were challenged.
He maintained that food preferences were deeply connected to personal choice, cultural identity and longstanding traditions, and no community should face insults over its dietary practices.
Drawing a comparison with the controversy involving YouTuber Amir Shokeen, Pradyot alleged that the content creator had also used derogatory terms such as ‘Chinese’ and ‘Chinky’ to refer to people from Tripura and the Northeast.
He said the key difference between the two incidents was that the latest alleged remarks had come from an elected public representative.
Pradyot also questioned whether the BJP endorsed the language and attitude reflected in the MLA’s statement. He argued that a person’s political position mattered less than the mindset conveyed through their words.
He urged members of the indigenous community to raise their voices against any remarks that demeaned their cultural practices, identity and traditions.
TYF files police complaint against BJP MLA
Separately, the Tribal Youth Federation, the youth wing of the Left-affiliated Ganamukti Parishad, lodged a complaint with the Officer-in-Charge of West Agartala Police Station on Tuesday, seeking registration of an FIR against Hossain.
In the complaint, Koushik Roy Debbarma, representing the TYF Central Committee president and acting in his individual capacity, alleged that the MLA made the controversial remarks during an election campaign at Tamsabari.
The complaint quoted Hossain as allegedly saying, “They sleep with pigs and eat with pigs from birth.”
Describing the statement as derogatory and dehumanising, the complainant alleged that it could promote hatred and hostility towards the Tiprasa community and disturb communal harmony.
The complaint sought an investigation under Sections 196 and 352 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023. It also urged the police to examine whether provisions of the Scheduled Castes and the Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act, 1989, were applicable.
The TYF further requested the police to collect and preserve video and audio recordings of the alleged incident, identify witnesses and verify the circumstances surrounding the statement.
The controversy has emerged ahead of Tripura’s urban local body elections, adding to the political exchanges between parties in the state.
Hossain’s unconditional apology followed criticism from political leaders and the police complaint. However, there was no immediate confirmation on whether an FIR had been registered or a formal investigation initiated.