Tripura governor Taathagata Roy labels Yakub Memon’s mourners potential terrorists

AGARTALA: Tripura governor Tathagata Roy on Friday kicked up a storm dubbing those present at Yakub Memon's funeral in Mumbai as "potential terrorists" on Twitter.

Roy tweeted, "Intelligence shd keep a tab on all (expt relatives & close friends) who assembled bfr Yakub Memon's corpse. Many are potential terrorists" (sic).

He went on to add, "Governors ought to be concerned abt security of state. Intelligence keeping tab on Yakub's mourners is preventing terror. Better than cure" (sic).

Later, however, Roy alleged his tweets were distorted and misinterpreted.

"I did not name any individual or community. My post has been interpreted in a convincing way by individuals, including a section of the media, which I don't mind. Governors ought to be concerned about the security of the state," Roy told ToI.

He said, "Being a governor, I am equally responsible for the country's safety and security. When I suggested intelligence should keep a tab, no community or group was mentioned. So, how come I'm accused of being a communal bigot?"

He added, "The job of intelligence agencies is to keep a watch on every development, which I reiterated. I always say text is the responsibility of the writer, but interpretation lies with the receiver. In this case also many interpretations and thoughts have been put on my mouth, which I never said or meant."

The governor said it was his constitutional duty to bring matters of public interest to public notice. "My position as governor is not thereby compromised. I'm sure many of my detractors are discovering that I didn't say what they thought. So, they have to bluster now," he added.

Supporting Roy's content on Twitter, top BJP leaders of the state said terrorist sympathizers are more dangerous than terrorists themselves. They added that newspapers and channels campaigned for mercy to a conspirator by forgetting the killing of 257 innocent civilians in Mumbai in 1993.

When contacted, CPM state secretary Bijon Dhar said, "We are discussing the issue. But we are not in a position to make any comment right now." State Congress president Birajit Sinha said, "The issue is sensitive. I will not comment right now."