Alleging that the CPI(M) exploited the people of Tripura for years, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh on Tuesday said the face of the state changed after the BJP came to power.
Addressing an election rally at Kailashahar in Unakoti district, he said Tripura is “literally running” towards economic development.
“The entire Northeast is witnessing rapid development with the help of the internet. Tripura is literally running towards economic development,” he said.
“The CPI(M) used to claim itself as the saviour of the poor but they are the ones who exploited the poor people for years. They did nothing for the poor. The face of the state changed after the BJP came to power. It is the people who made the BJP hero from zero,” he added.
Singh, who arrived on a two-day visit to the poll-bound state on Monday, said the BJP brought development to the state, which had poor infrastructure during the CPI(M)’s rule.
“Now, electricity, water connections and roads are available as the BJP government is taking all possible steps to speed up development. The CPI(M)-led government did not respect women, but during BJP rule, they are getting respect and benefits,” he said.
Singh also claimed that violence has “stopped” in Tripura as the BJP does not believe in it.
“Under Narendra Modi’s leadership, the country has become stronger, and the world wants to listen to what India says,” he asserted.
He urged the people to vote for the BJP in the upcoming assembly elections to continue the development of the state.
Polling for the 60-seat assembly will be held on February 16, while the votes will be counted on March 2.
Former chief minister Biplab Kumar Deb also addressed the rally.
PM Modi effected transformation in Tripura, northeast: BJP
Tripura and the entire northeast have witnessed a “transformation” with Prime Minister Narendra Modi at power in the Centre, the BJP said on Tuesday, expressing confidence that it will retain power in the poll-bound state.
“The ‘Look East’ policy of the Congress was so hollow that it never touched the ground realities. It was Prime Minister Modi who actually brought a transformation by replacing that policy with an action-oriented ‘Act East’ policy. His model of ‘HIRA’ will ensure further prosperity in Tripura,” Union minister Sarbananda Sonowal told a press conference here.
The term “HIRA” is used by the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) to refer to the government’s thrust on highways, internet, roads and airports.
Not only nationally, but Tripura has now earned fame internationally too as its exports and strong infrastructure have put it on the path to development, Sonowal said.
Attacking the Left and the Congress, which have joined hands against the ruling BJP in Tripura, the tribal leader alleged that terrorism, drugs and corruption had affected the northeastern state under their four decades of collective rule as they had neither policies nor any intention to develop the region.
The BJP has not only policies and intention but also a great leader in Modi, who has worked to ensure social security and economic uplift for the people of Tripura, he said.
During the Congress rule at the Centre, the northeast was never given due significance in the national agenda as it remained backwards, Sonowal added.
At the press conference, the Public Policy Research Centre, a thinktank affiliated to the BJP, released a report, claiming that the farmers’ income saw a massive rise under the saffron party’s rule in Tripura since 2018 and piped drinking water has reached more than 58 per cent households in the state from the earlier less than 3.5 per cent. Public Policy Research Centre’s director Sumeet Bhasin released the report.
The 60-member Tripura Assembly is scheduled to go to polls on February 16 and the counting of votes will be taken up on March 2.
PM to address rallies in Tripura on Feb 11, 13
Ahead of the February 16 Assembly elections in Tripura, Prime Minister Narendra Modi will visit the state and address rallies on February 11 and 13.
According to a source in Tripura BJP, “Prime Minister Narendra Modi will visit Tripura on February 11 and 13. The Prime Minister will address two election meetings at Gomti and Dhalai.”
“Tripura Chief Minister Manik Saha, BJP’s state in-charge Mahesh Sharma and other leaders will welcome the Prime Minister,” the source added.
The BJP has declared candidates for 55 seats for the elections to the 60-member Tripura Assembly, leaving the remaining five seats for its alliance partner, Indigenous People’s Front of Tripura (IPFT).
The Left-Congress alliance has also declared their candidates for all the 60 seats.
While Tripura will go to the polls on February 16, Assembly elections in Meghalaya and Nagaland will be held on 27 February. The counting of votes for all the three states will take place on March 2.
