New Delhi: A total of 16 Trinamool Congress (TMC) MPs on Monday travelled to New Delhi to meet Union Home Minister Amit Shah to discuss alleged police violence in Tripura.
The delegation staged a dharna in the national capital in protest over Tripura Police's detention of TMC Youth head Saayoni Ghosh and claimed police abuse. They're also looking for an appointment with Union Home Minister Amit Shah.
Sukhendu Sekhar Roy, Kalyan Banerjee, Derek O'Brien, Sougata Roy, and Dola Sen are among the MPs in the group, according to ANI.
The tension between the TMC and the BJP is related to the elections in the Agartala Municipal Corporation (AMC) and 12 other municipal bodies which are scheduled to be held on November 25.
The Supreme Court agreed earlier today to hear a TMC contempt petition tomorrow, stating that the law and order situation in Tripura is "worsening" by the day as municipal body polls approach.
The Tripura High Court had previously ordered the Tripura Police Department to guarantee that no political party be barred from peacefully campaigning in compliance with the law.
Tripura Police detained Trinamool Youth Congress President Sayonni Ghosh on Sunday for allegedly making a commotion during a public gathering of Tripura Chief Minister Biplab Kumar Deb.
Speaking to news agency ANI, TMC leader Sushmita Dev said, "They vandalised the PS and attacked us twice yesterday. The DGP and IGP are not available on phone. Apparently, the DGP is in some conference with the PM, whereas his state is in chaos. Clearly, the law and order situation is not a priority for the govt."
TMC MP Saugata Roy, while speaking to ANI about the alleged police brutality, said, "This attack on democracy has been going on for the past 4 months. BJP wants TMC's programs to shut with the help of goons & police, but we continue fighting. They're scared that Tripura is slipping from under their feet."
(With inputs from ANI)