Tripura Congress Intensified Protests Against Power Tarrif Hike, Smart Meter

• By Thetripurapost Desk, Agartala
• Jul 15, 2025
• 772

The Tripura Pradesh Congress Committee (TPCC) held statewide protest rallies  including a major demonstration in front of the Tripura State Electricity Corporation Limited (TSECL) office in Agartala. 

The protests targeted a slew of issues including steep electricity tariff hikes, imposition of prepaid smart meters, surging PNG and CNG prices, increased road taxes, and what the party called a “deteriorating law and order situation.”

Congress leaders also condemned alleged attacks on opposition members, including party MLA Sudip Roy Barman and Gopal Roy, blaming “anti-social elements backed by the ruling BJP” for attempting to stifle dissent.

Speaking at the rally, TPCC spokesperson Prabir Chakraborty criticized the Modi government for policies he said favor corporate entities at the expense of ordinary citizens. “Every major scheme since 2014 has benefitted corporates while burdening the public,” Chakraborty claimed.

He cited GST as a key example of policy failure and alleged that Rs 3.2 lakh crore was embezzled through Input Tax Credit fraud between 2022 and 2024. On digital payments, he stated that 44 lakh cases of fraud resulted in losses of nearly Rs 6,800 crore in under two years.

Targeting the privatization of the power sector, Chakraborty said TSECL’s financial health has collapsed, with its debt soaring from Rs 350 crore in deposits (2018) to over Rs 1,000 crore in liabilities. He warned that prepaid meters could severely affect low-income households.

The Congress demanded the rollback of recent price hikes, particularly in PNG, CNG, and road taxes, and called for immediate arrests of those involved in alleged political violence.