Dhalai ‘child sale’: Tripura CM Manik Saha criticises Opposition; BJP claims child was given up for adoption and not sold
The ‘child sale’ incident came to light after Tripura Opposition leader and CPI(M) state secretary Jitendra Chaudhury flagged the issue two days ago and sought the intervention of Chief Secretary J K Sinha and Dhalai District Magistrate Saju Vaheed A
The chief minister said the state government was providing 10 per cent additional funds for the development of Dhalai as it is an aspirational district.
A day after the Dhalai district administration rescued a newborn who was purportedly sold by the mother, Tripura Chief Minister Dr Manik Saha on Monday said greater social awareness was needed to stop such incidents from recurring.
Speaking to reporters in Agartala on Monday evening, CM Saha said, “I got details of the case from the DM on the day we came to know about the incident. The baby was immediately returned to the mother.”
Saha also shot back at the Opposition CPI(M) for criticising the government over the alleged child sale incident.
The Tripura CM said, “We used to see these things (child sale) every day when those raising these allegations were in power themselves. I suggest people read newspaper reports of that time.”
The chief minister said the state government was providing 10 per cent additional funds for the development of Dhalai as it is an aspirational district.
“We are providing extra funds to the Dhalai district. So, this (sale of newborn) is not supposed to happen…” the CM further said.
Saha then said he had asked the chief secretary to gather details of the incident and apprise him. “He (chief secretary) informed me that funds were provided by the local administration to the family concerned and other steps were also taken,” he added.
Incidentally, the child sale incident came to light after Tripura Opposition leader and CPI(M) state secretary Jitendra Chaudhury flagged the issue two days ago and sought the intervention of Chief Secretary J K Sinha and Dhalai District Magistrate Saju Vaheed A.
Chaudhury also alleged that the BJP government and its tribal ally TIPRA Motha, which is in power in the Tripura Tribal Areas Autonomous District Council, were responsible for the ‘child sale’ incident as they failed to provide basic amenities to the marginalised communities.
Speaking on the ‘newborn sale’ issue, Dhalai DM Vaheed A recently said that both the mother and the newborn have been shifted to a shelter home in Gandacherra.
“The woman was in distress, especially after her husband’s death,” said Vaheed A.
Reacting to the issue, BJP spokesperson Ashmita Banik said, “The Opposition CPI(M) and the Congress tried to confuse people with false statements on child sale in Dhalai district. A woman gave away her newborn to a childless family for adoption. Unfortunately, the legal procedure for adoption was not followed in this case.”