Tafajjal Hossain row: Law will take its course, says Tripura CM Saha

Tripura Chief Minister Manik Saha said on Thursday, November 12, that "the law will take its own course" over Boxanagar BJP MLA Tafajjal Hossain's alleged remarks about the food habits of the state's tribal people. He added that the party was also looking into the matter and that the MLA's apology would be taken into account.

Hossain has apologised, but a police complaint against him is pending, and the women's wing of the BJP's ally TIPRA Motha has demanded his resignation.

What the Chief Minister said

Speaking to reporters, Saha said he had been following the controversy closely and had discussed it with the party president. "The party will definitely take whatever steps it decides to take. Whatever is legally required will also be undertaken," he said, according to India Today NE. "If he has made such a statement and has already apologised, that aspect should also be considered."

The Hans India quoted him as saying, "Such remarks should not be made." Saha also holds the Home portfolio, so any police action on the complaint falls under his department.

The apology, and why critics are not satisfied

The controversy began with a video clip that spread on social media on Tuesday. According to Northeast Now, it was recorded during a civic poll campaign at Tamsabari in Sonamura subdivision of Sepahijala district. Hossain first said the clip had been cut out of context and accused the CPI(M) of twisting his words. He later held a press conference and apologised unconditionally to the Tiprasa community.

In a video message reported by The Economic Times, the 52-year-old legislator said he never meant to hurt anyone and was sorry if his words had hurt his "tribal brothers and sisters".

TIPRA Motha founder Pradyot Kishore Manikya Debbarma does not accept the apology. In a Facebook post, he said it looked like an attempt to divert attention from what was said. "Yes, we eat pork. This is our taste, our culture and our traditional food," he said in an earlier video message.

On Thursday, the Tipra Women's Federation, TIPRA Motha's women's wing, demanded Hossain's resignation and "exemplary punishment". It asked the state to apply the same standard it used against Delhi-based influencer Amir Shokeen, who was brought to Agartala by Tripura Police over racial slurs aimed at a tribal youth from the state.

A police complaint under the BNS

The Tribal Youth Federation, the youth wing of the Left-backed Ganamukti Parishad, has filed a complaint at West Agartala police station asking for an FIR. Northeast Now said the complaint quotes the MLA as allegedly saying tribal people "sleep with pigs and eat with pigs from birth". It seeks a case under Sections 196 (promoting enmity between groups) and 352 (intentional insult) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita. It also asks police to examine whether the SC/ST (Prevention of Atrocities) Act applies, and to preserve the video and audio recordings. No FIR had been reported by Thursday afternoon.

CPI(M) state secretary and Leader of the Opposition Jitendra Chaudhury, who first demanded legal action on Wednesday, said an elected representative under constitutional oath must not shelter behind his party.

Why it matters ahead of November 27

The timing is awkward for the ruling alliance. Tripura votes on November 27 for 21 urban local bodies, with counting on December 2. The BJP and TIPRA Motha are contesting together under the NDA banner, and the BJP joined the TIPRA Motha-led executive of the tribal council this month, with seven executive members sworn in. Scheduled Tribes made up about 31.8% of Tripura's population in the 2011 Census.

Hossain won the Boxanagar bypoll in September 2023 as the BJP's first Muslim MLA in Tripura. According to Hub News, he has said the remarks were made while he was speaking to Muslim voters, in reply to what he called a CPI(M) campaign against the BJP. Whether the BJP acts, and whether police register a case, will test how the alliance handles this clash with its tribal partner mid-campaign.

NEInsider will update this story if an FIR is registered or the BJP announces action.