Contribution to War of Liberation
Controversy over Tripura CM’s inclusion in list
Controversy has emerged in the northeastern Indian state of Tripura over Bangladesh government's decision to include its Chief Minister Manik Sarkar on the list of 129 foreign dignitaries who contributed to Bangladesh's Liberation War in 1971.
The Congress, the opposition in Tripura, has dubbed the initiative as a "distortion of history". It said its late leader and former Tripura chief minister Sachindra Lal Singha had played a proactive role in the Liberation War and arranged shelters for several lakh Bangladeshi refugees in the state at that time but his contribution has not been recognised by Bangladesh.
Foreign Minister Dipu Moni on February 16 invited Sarkar as a friend of Bangladesh to an official ceremony here on March 27 to receive recognition for his contribution to the Liberation War.
As the issue involves two countries, the invitation was referred to the Ministry of External Affairs, India for consideration and giving necessary political clearance.
Defending Bangladesh government's decision, Tripura's ruling Communist Party of India-Marxist (CPI-M) in a statement said the Student Federation of India, in which Sarkar worked as state secretary in 1971, played a glorious role during the Liberation War.
However, leader of the opposition Congress Ratan Lal Nath said "neither the chief minister nor his party CPI-M had played any role in Bangladesh's Liberation War. They remained indifferent to the movement as China, the ideological mentor of CPI-M, had opposed it.”
It will be "a distortion of history" if Sarkar is recognised as a contributor to the war, Nath has written to Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, seeking his intervention in the issue to "redress an injustice about to happen.”
Nath in the letter sent on March 13, a copy of which was made available to the media, said late Tripura chief minister Sachindra Lal Singha of the Congress party had played an important role in Bangladesh's Liberation War.
Meanwhile, expelled CPI-M leader and former parliamentarian Ajay Biswas said Manik Sarkar "had no role in the Liberation War. The people of the state would be insulted if Sarkar receives the honour individually.”
Tripura people had made tremendous contribution to the war, he said adding that if Sarkar received the honour on behalf of the people, there would be no objection.
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