Tripura Power Minister Ratan Lal Nath’s Remarks on Nehru Trigger Political Storm, Congress Lodges Strong Protest

By Our Correspondent

Agartala, June 16, 2026

A political controversy has erupted in Tripura after State Power Minister Ratan Lal Nath made critical remarks about India’s first Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru while addressing a public gathering and highlighting the expansion of sanitation facilities across the country. The minister’s comments have drawn sharp criticism from the Congress, which accused him of disrespecting former national leaders and lowering the standards of political discourse.

During his speech, Nath spoke about the lack of sanitation infrastructure in rural India during earlier decades. Recalling his own experiences, he said that in the past many villagers were forced to use riverbanks, fields and bamboo groves for open defecation because household toilets were unavailable. Referring to those conditions, he claimed that despite ruling the country for decades, leaders such as Jawaharlal Nehru and Indira Gandhi failed to provide even basic sanitation facilities to millions of citizens. He contrasted those conditions with the present situation, stating that more than 110 million toilets have been constructed across India under various government initiatives and that around 560,000 toilets have been built in Tripura.

The minister’s remarks quickly sparked political reactions across the state. Opposition leaders accused him of making derogatory comments about leaders who played significant roles in shaping modern India. The controversy gained further attention because Nath himself was associated with the Congress for many years before joining the Bharatiya Janata Party. Political observers noted that during his time in the Congress, Nath frequently praised Jawaharlal Nehru, Indira Gandhi and Rajiv Gandhi and was considered one of the party’s prominent leaders in Tripura.

Since joining the BJP and becoming a minister after the party came to power in Tripura in 2018, Nath has repeatedly criticized the Congress and its historical leadership. His latest comments have once again reignited debates over political civility and the manner in which contemporary leaders discuss historical figures. Critics argue that while political parties are free to debate policies and governance records, personal attacks and disrespectful language directed at former national leaders are inappropriate in democratic politics.

Reacting strongly to the statement, the Tripura Pradesh Congress Committee condemned Nath’s remarks and accused him of attempting to gain political mileage by targeting leaders who can no longer respond to such criticism. The party’s state leadership described Jawaharlal Nehru as one of the principal architects of independent India and said his contributions to nation-building, democratic institutions, education and scientific development cannot be ignored. Congress leaders demanded that the minister withdraw his comments and maintain dignity while addressing political issues.

The BJP, however, defended the minister’s observations, arguing that his comments were intended to highlight improvements in sanitation and rural infrastructure achieved in recent years. Party leaders maintained that discussing the shortcomings of previous governments is a legitimate part of democratic debate and that the focus should remain on development indicators and governance outcomes.

The exchange has intensified the ongoing political rivalry between the BJP and Congress in Tripura, with both parties using the controversy to reinforce their respective narratives.

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