Agartala, Dec 29: Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi on Monday described the death of a Tripura student in Uttarakhand’s Dehradun as a disturbing instance of hate-driven violence and alleged that such attitudes were being normalised under the Bharatiya Janata Party’s leadership.
Angel Chakma, 24, a resident of Nandannagar in West Tripura, was allegedly assaulted by a group of six people on December 9 after he protested against a racial remark in Dehradun. He later succumbed to his injuries on December 26 while undergoing treatment. His brother, Michael Chakma, who was also attacked during the incident, sustained injuries.
Reacting to the incident on social media platform X, Gandhi said hatred does not arise suddenly. He stated that what happened to Angel Chakma and his brother amounted to a horrific hate crime and alleged that intolerance was being cultivated over time through divisive narratives, particularly targeting the youth. He accused the ruling BJP’s leadership of fostering an environment where such behaviour had become acceptable.
Gandhi said India stood for unity, dignity and mutual respect, not intimidation or abuse. He urged citizens not to remain silent when fellow Indians were targeted, warning against the country drifting towards indifference. He also expressed solidarity with the Chakma family and the people of Tripura and the Northeast.
Meanwhile, Tripura Chief Minister Manik Saha said his Uttarakhand counterpart Pushkar Singh Dhami had assured him that strict action would be taken and that all those involved in the incident would be brought to justice.
The killing sparked widespread outrage, with thousands of students under the banner of the Tipra Indigenous Students’ Federation organising a candlelight march on Sunday to demand justice for Angel Chakma. The procession passed through central areas near the Ujjayanta Palace in Agartala, reflecting growing anger and grief over the incident.
