Agartala, April 4: Power Minister Ratan Lal Nath on Saturday asserted that demands such as Tipraland are merely political slogans and lack practical feasibility. He maintained that the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) remains the only party committed to genuine development in tribal areas.
Addressing an election rally at Birmohanbari under the Bodhjungnagar-Wakhinagar constituency on Friday (April 3), Nath alleged that several regional parties are misleading indigenous communities with unrealistic promises. He was campaigning for BJP candidate Ranabir Debbarma.
Welfare Schemes Highlighted
The Minister claimed that since the BJP assumed power, welfare initiatives have significantly expanded. He pointed out that free rice distribution has reached thousands of families, a benefit he said was never ensured by parties like Tipra Motha Party or Communist Party of India (Marxist) in the past.
According to Nath, nearly 4,000 out of 6,000 families in the area are currently receiving free rice, with plans to extend the benefit to all eligible households except government employees. He also highlighted that the state has achieved full household water connectivity, crediting both the BJP-led state government and Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
Rise in Social Benefits and Recognition
He further stated that the number of social pension beneficiaries has increased substantially—from around 500 earlier to nearly 2,000 at present—under the BJP administration. Emphasising recognition for tribal communities, Nath said that several individuals from the Janajati population have received the Padma Shri in recent years, which he claimed was not the case before 2018.
Tribal Representation and Leadership
Highlighting political representation, Nath noted that Tripura now has a Governor from the tribal community, referring to Jishnu Dev Varma.
He credited such developments to the leadership of Prime Minister Modi, stating that both the Centre and the state government are aligned in prioritising tribal welfare.
Criticising opposition parties, Nath alleged that many political groups make promises but fail to deliver tangible outcomes for indigenous communities.
He reiterated that substantial government spending is currently directed toward the development of Janajati areas.
Development Over Slogans
Reaffirming his stance, the Minister said that slogans like Tipraland and Thansa are not achievable. Instead, he stressed that inclusive development remains the only viable path forward.
He added that the BJP government is actively working to preserve tribal culture and language—areas he claimed were neglected by previous administrations.
Concluding his address, Nath accused certain regional parties of creating confusion among tribal populations while failing to contribute meaningfully to their progress.