Agartala, Apr 15, 2024, By Our Correspondent
Union Home Minister Amit on Monday appealed the electors of the state to vote for BJP candidates Biplab Kumar Deb and Kriti Singh.
Shah who arrived here on Sunday held poll rally at Kumarghat with Chief Minister Dr Manik Saha, state BJP president Rajib Bhattacharjee, Rajya Sabha MP and West Tripura Lok Sabha candidate Biplab Kumar Deb, East Tripura Lok Sabha candidate Kriti Singh and other leaders.
Shah in his speech highlighted that under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, the BJP has initiated a wave of development in Tripura and the entire northeast region. In contrast, the Congress and Communists overlooked the state's needs and the contributions of its tribal communities.
Shah recalled his visit to Tripura in December 2017, aimed at freeing the people from Communist rule and said, now, with the Communist government ousted, the people have placed their trust in Prime Minister Modi, paving the way for development in Tripura.
The Home Minister said, for many years, the Communists tried their best to erase the name of Maharaja Bir Bikram Kishore Manikya from history. But Prime Minister Modi immortalized him by naming the Tripura International Airport after him. Shah mentioned that two tribal artists, Benichandra Jamatia and Satyaram Reang, were honored with the Padma Awards, symbolizing the increased recognition and respect for the tribal community.
“The Modi government has taken several development initiatives for the dignity, security, and comprehensive development of tribal communities, nationwide, focusing on their integration and well-being”, he said and added, the Prime Minister has worked to elevate the status of tribals.
“Despite years of Congress and Communist rule, not a single tribal individual was appointed as President. However, for the first time in 75 years of independence, The Prime Minister honored the tribals by appointing Draupadi Murmu as the President of the country”, he pointed out.
He highlighted the Modi government's initiatives, including the allocation of hundreds of crores for a museum honoring tribal valor. He emphasized that under Modi's leadership, the budget of the Tribal Affairs Ministry increased from Rs 24,000 crore to Rs 1,25,000 crore. Additionally, while only 90 Eklavya Model schools were established in 70 years, the Modi government set up 740 such schools. He also pointed out the development in road connectivity, airways, tourism, and health infrastructure achieved under the BJP government.
Shah announced the signing of an agreement between the Indian government, the Tripura government, and TIPRA Motha, addressing various issues faced by the people of Tripura. He highlighted Prime Minister’s initiatives, including the construction of 2.94 crore houses for the poor, with a significant portion benefiting the Scheduled Tribes (ST) community.
“Additionally, over 12 crore toilets have been built, and 70 crore people receive 5 kg of rice per month. Infrastructure development in Tripura includes the extension of the Sabroom railway station, the expansion of the Agartala Railway line, and the construction of nine highways. Educational reforms include bringing Vidya Jyoti School under CBSE and establishing a Central Sanskrit University in Bamutia. Other projects such as an international cricket stadium in Narsingarh and a Special Economic Zone in Jalefa, Sabroom, aim to boost employment opportunities in the state”, Shah said.
He pointed out that there were 87,000 'Lakhpati Didis' in Tripura alone, and that the Prime Minister aimed to create three crores more such 'Lakhpati Didis'.
In an attack on the last communist regime, highlighting the enduring legacies of poverty, hunger, health and education crises , and youth involvement in violence that they left behind wherever they went.
He said the present government empowered the same youth by providing them with laptops. More than 10 agreements have been signed in the entire northeast, aiming to integrate the youth into the mainstream and steer them away from violence and conflict. He also highlighted the plight of the Bru/Reang tribes, who had been living in distress and that under the Modi government, efforts were made to establish well-equipped villages to improve their living conditions.
Shah mentioned that during the Congress government only Rs 40,183 crore was allocated for the state while Modi's government allocated Rs 98,000 crore in the past decade, including Rs 20,000 crore for infrastructure, Rs 17,000 crore for road infrastructure, Rs 2,000 crore for railways, and Rs 1,000 crore for airports.
He also spoke about BJP’s commitment to expand the Ayushman Bharat Yojana to cover senior citizens above 70 years of age, irrespective of their economic status.
Shah highlighted the government's plans to build an additional 3 crore houses under the PM Awas Yojna. Shri Shah also noted initiatives to provide cheap pipeline gas to households, similar to the provision of tap water to the poor apart from PM Surya Ghar Muft Bijli Yojana, which offers free electricity to households installing rooftop solar electricity units.
The Union Home Minister criticized the Communists and Congress for allowing infiltration to occur, promising that Prime Minister Narendra Modi, upon assuming office for the third time, would put an end to infiltration once and for all.