Opposition leader of Tripura and CPM Politburo member Manik Sarkar came down heavily on Prime Minister Narendra Modi and refuted the allegations raised by the Prime Minister that there were ‘brakes’ in development and corruption was rampant during the Left regimes.
“I challenge the Prime Minister to prove that there was no development under the Left regime corruption was rampant during the rule of the previous government,” Sarkar said.
The Prime Minister, in his speech at the inauguration of the New Terminal of the MBB Airport and two other schemes in Agartala on Tuesday, referred to the previous regime and made the statement.
Addressing a press conference in Agartala on Wednesday Sarkar talked tough against PM Modi and alleged, “PM Modi had delivered concocted facts at Agartala by stating that there was no development in Tripura before the double-engine government.”
Referring to the inauguration of new terminal building of MBB airport to state, the Opposition leader said the modernization of Maharaja Bir Bikram Arport (MBB) in Agartala – where a new terminal was opened by Modi – started during the Left era.
“We first floated the proposal for modernizing the airport, arranged additional lands for developing it and spent Rs. 35 crore from State exchequer. We relocated 30-33 families whose houses were demolished for airport expansion. Even excavation and others works started in our tenure. However, the Prime Minister is saying that we applied brakes on development,” Sarkar said.
He also rejectd Modi’s claims of accelerated development in railways, internet and other connectivity avenues,
“The railway projects of Indo-Bangla international rail connectivity on the Agartala-Akhaura route was started under the Left rule,” adding to this Sarkar alleged not much progress could be made since the BJP-led alliance came to power ending decades of Left rule.
The opposition leader also said that the third internet gateway of India was set up in Tripura during the Left rule.
Sarkar also rubbished the allegation of rampant corruption during Left regime and alleged, “Corruption is rampant in the current regime of double-engine government which also includes the recent recruitment of TSR. Several people pointed fingers at BJP leaders and alleged corruption in this case recently”.