BJP MLA Apologises Amid Political Storm, Claims CPI(M) Distorted His Statement, BJP Says Party Does Not Support his Remarks

By Our Correspondent

Agartala, November 11, 2026

BJP MLA from Boxanagar, Tofazzal Hossain, has come under intense political and public criticism following his alleged derogatory remarks against the indigenous Tiprasa community of Tripura. The controversy has triggered widespread reactions across political parties, with tribal organisations, opposition leader Jitendra Chaudhury and civil society members expressing strong resentment over the reported statement.

Amid mounting pressure, the Boxanagar legislator on Wednesday convened a press conference and apologised for his remarks concerning the tribal community. However, he reportedly maintained that his statement had been misrepresented and distorted by the CPI(M), alleging that the opposition party had deliberately circulated it in a misleading manner.

The controversy originated on November 10 during an election campaign at an event reportedly held under the Sonamura subdivision. According to the complaint submitted to the police, Hossain allegedly made the statement, "They sleep with pigs and eat with pigs from birth," referring to the Tiprasa community.

The reported remarks have been widely condemned as derogatory, humiliating and potentially divisive, particularly because they allegedly targeted the cultural identity and food habits of an indigenous community.

Taking serious note of the controversy, the Tribal Youth Federation (TYF), Central Committee, submitted a written complaint to the Officer-in-Charge of West Agartala Police Station on November 11, seeking registration of an FIR and a formal investigation against the BJP legislator.

The complaint was submitted by Kaushik Roy Debbarma on behalf of the TYF Central Committee President and in his individual capacity as an affected member of the Tiprasa community.

The complainant alleged that the statement amounted to an intentional insult and hate speech against the community and had the potential to promote hatred, hostility and social division.

The complaint specifically requested the police to examine the alleged remarks under Sections 196 and 352 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), 2023, and, if the statutory requirements were fulfilled, Section 3(1)(x) of the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act, 1989.

It also sought preservation of video and audio recordings, social media circulation, eyewitness accounts and other relevant evidence to establish the exact context of the alleged statement.

The complainant further requested an impartial and time-bound investigation and demanded that appropriate legal and preventive measures be taken to maintain communal harmony and protect the dignity of the Tiprasa community.

The police station's receiving stamp on the submitted complaint bears the date November 11, 2026. However, it remains to be officially established whether the complaint has subsequently been registered as a formal FIR.

The organisations maintained that an elected representative occupying a constitutional position must exercise greater responsibility while making public statements, particularly on issues concerning ethnicity, religion and cultural identity.

The controversy also drew a strong reaction from TIPRA Motha founder and former TTAADC Chief Executive Member Pradyot Kishore Debbarma.

Reacting through social media, Pradyot strongly condemned the reported remarks and demanded that Tofazzal Hossain immediately resign from the constitutional position he holds.

He described the alleged statement as an insult not only to indigenous people but also to Tripura and the entire Northeast.

In another reaction, he reportedly made sharp allegations against the Boxanagar MLA and asked him to apologise to the indigenous community.

Interestingly, the controversy has also created an uncomfortable situation within the BJP.

BJP leader Bipin Debbarma reportedly stated that the party does not support Tofazzal Hossain's controversial remarks concerning the tribal community.

His reaction is significant as the BJP leadership now faces questions over how it intends to deal with a controversy involving one of its elected representatives.

The incident has also triggered criticism from sections of the public, with many questioning the growing tendency among political leaders to make provocative statements targeting religious and ethnic identities for electoral gains.

Several social media users have expressed concern that such language could undermine the peaceful coexistence of different communities in Tripura.

Although Tofazzal Hossain has now apologised publicly, the controversy is unlikely to disappear immediately. The written police complaint, demands for his arrest and resignation, reactions from TIPRA Motha and questions raised within the BJP have transformed the incident into a major political issue.

With Tripura preparing for statewide civic elections, the controversy could also acquire wider electoral significance.

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