The deplorable financial condition of Tripura has been reflected in this year’s state Budget. The “triple-engine government” has turned into a “trouble engine,” Opposition Leader Jitendra Choudhury said, initiating a discussion on the Budget in the Assembly on March 19.

The recently held assembly election went heavily in favor of the NDA, reducing the opposition strength to just 41 out of 243. The left parties also lost 13 seats and got only 3 seats. But these three represent the real voice of the oppressed and downtrodden and the fighting working masses of the state.

Last year, in July, the United States and Israel bombarded Iran’s nuclear energy and nuclear research facilities over 12 days. After a few days, the two belligerent powers – who had no United Nations authorisation for this war of aggression – opened the door for a ceasefire. At that time, believing that this might very well be the basis for a full negotiation, the Iranian government led by Supreme Leader Ali Hosseini Khamenei agreed to the terms set out – an immediate end to the strikes and no escalation. The missile launchers went quiet, but the deal was very fragile.

In the recent period, a series of workplace accidents have occurred across Haryana, resulting in dozens of fatalities. This is a direct fall out of the indifference of the BJP government and its failure to ensure the safety of the workers, leaving them to fend for themselves in life-threatening working conditions.

Massive Explosion and Fire in Faridabad

The CITU organised a march to the Tripura Assembly on March 23 to push for various demands: Regularise all categories of irregular employees; clear the pending DA/DR arrears; reinstate all retrenched workers, including scheme workers; and the anti-worker Labour Codes must not be implemented in this state. Hundreds of working people who joined the march warned the government: “We will not surrender. This struggle is not over.