By Firstdespatch Desk Dec 22, 2024
Agartala, Dec 22 (FD) The opposition Left parties in Tripura, who collectively ruled the state for 35 years, came under sharp criticism from Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Sunday.
Addressing a public gathering at Bruhapara, a tribal village where displaced Brus have been rehabilitated, Shah stated that Tripura remained backward during the erstwhile Left rule, while development began only after the BJP came to power in 2018.
“The Left ruled the state for 35 years and always boasted about working for the poor. The Congress also ruled the state for a significant time. However, the people became poorer under their governance. The development of the people started only after the BJP came to power in 2018,” Shah remarked.
He recalled visiting the state in 2017 as BJP President, spending five days, and initially managing to recruit only 11 party members. However, after sustained efforts, the BJP successfully ousted the Left from power.
Shah highlighted that during the Left regime, only 2.5% of people had access to piped drinking water, which increased to 85% under BJP rule.
“During the Left regime, there were no free food grains for the poor. Now, each person receives 5 kilograms of rice, free treatment worth up to ₹5 lakh, and access to free power and LPG connections. With increased investments, school dropout rates have dropped to 3%, and 99% of children are getting admissions,” he added.
Shah also mentioned that peace has been restored in the state following the signing of peace accords with insurgents. He expressed optimism that Tripura would emerge as one of the most developed states in the country with the blessings of Mata Tripureswari.
Speaking at the National Cooperative Conference held at Rabindra Bhavan, he said, “I will return in 2028 when the elections are held, with the report card of our 10-year rule and compare it with the 35-year rule of the CPI(M). I am confident that our report card will surpass theirs.”
Shah also claimed that the BJP governments at the Centre and in Tripura had rehabilitated 35,000 displaced Brus from Mizoram.
“We have rehabilitated the Brus because the Left Front government failed to take any action for their welfare. They are now settled in 11 villages, and we are working to rehabilitate them in one more village. Now they are living as true Indian citizens,” he stated.
Shah elaborated that the Brus have been provided with Aadhaar cards, voter ID cards, and ration cards, courtesy of the Modi government. Additionally, they were given ₹1.5 lakh for house construction, ₹4 lakh as fixed deposits, and ₹5,000 per month for 24 months as financial assistance.
The Brus began migrating to Tripura in 1997 in phases, following ethnic conflicts with the Mizos. Their rehabilitation became possible after a quadripartite agreement was signed on January 16, 2020. FD JK