Tripura Provides Jobs to 18 Families Affected by Political Killings

Tripura Parliamentary Affairs Minister Ratan Lal Nath on Saturday announced that 18 individuals, whose family members were victims of political killings, have been provided government jobs by the BJP-led state government. This initiative is part of the government’s broader effort to deliver justice and support to families affected by political violence and unrest in the state.

At a press conference, Minister Nath explained that a dedicated committee was formed specifically to review applications from the families of those who had lost their lives due to political killings. So far, the committee has received 39 applications, out of which 18 have been approved for employment. Additionally, in a recent meeting held on June 19, the committee reviewed eight fresh applications. After thorough examination of administrative and police records, five more candidates were positively recommended for employment. Nath expressed hope that these five individuals would also be absorbed into government service within the next one to two months.

Highlighting the background of the situation, Nath said Tripura had witnessed rampant political violence prior to 2018, before the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) came to power. He claimed that many affected families during earlier regimes could not even lodge First Information Reports (FIRs), and in many cases, the official records of such incidents had gone missing. Nath added that most of the victims were from Congress families, whose workers continued to face violence and persecution despite the party being out of power since 1993. He emphasized that the BJP government has taken a different approach—treating all victims equally, irrespective of their political affiliations.

Tripura had a long history of political dominance by the CPI(M)-led Left Front, which ruled the state from 1978 to 1988, and then again from 1993 to 2018. The BJP, which came to power in 2018, has since been focusing on tackling the legacy of political violence and bringing closure to long-pending cases. Nath also pointed out that BJP workers themselves became targets of political violence starting in 2017, indicating that political killings and retributive violence affected multiple parties over decades.

The current initiative, under the BJP-led administration, is being viewed as a step toward justice and rehabilitation, particularly for families that had been neglected in the past. By providing government employment, the state aims not only to offer financial stability to these families but also to acknowledge their suffering and promote healing and inclusion.

This move has garnered attention for its non-partisan nature, with Nath affirming that political affiliation was not a criterion in evaluating eligibility for support. The emphasis on equal treatment marks a shift in administrative policy from previous regimes and reflects the state government’s attempt to build trust across communities.

In summary, the decision to provide jobs to 18 individuals, with more under consideration, reflects the BJP government’s commitment to redress the wrongs of political violence in Tripura and work toward a more inclusive and peaceful future for the state.