DHALAI: Home minister Amit Shah on Sunday accused Left parties, which were in office in Tripura for 35 years from 1978 to 1988 and then from 1993 to 2018, of having turned Tripura into a “backward” state, ranked low on all parameters of development, and said it was BJP that brought peace and progress to the state after taking over its reins in 2018.
Addressing a meeting after visiting a village where Bru tribals displaced from Mizoram have been permanently settled, Shah compared the development indices during the Left and BJP tenures. He said that while just 2.5% households in the state had access to drinking water before 2018, now 85% had tap water. “Earlier, no poor person received free ration, but today, under Modi govt, 82% of the people in Tripura receive 5 kg of rice for free,” he said.
Shah, who laid the foundation stone for development projects worth Rs 668 crore in Dhalai district, said the Modi govt was covering full healthcare expenses for 80% of the people in Tripura, subject to a ceiling of Rs 5 lakh.
He said Tripura was now attracting investments, with better road network and electrified households with toilets. “The dropout ratio in Tripura has decreased to below 3%, and enrolment has increased from 67% to 99.5%,” he said.
“The Modi govt and the Tripura govt have shown that when those who believe in democracy come to office, it leads to development of the country and the state,” Shah said. “Tripura is now peaceful following the signing of peace accords with insurgents. With the blessings of Maa Tripur Sundari, Tripura will be one of the most developed states in the country,” he added.
Referring to the settlement of Bru refugees – 70% of whom are Hindus and 30% Christians – in Tripura, Shah said PM Narendra Modi addressed their suffering after they had spent 25 years living in extremely difficult conditions, with no access to basic facilities like water, toilets, electricity, education, employment and healthcare. He said thanks to the Bru agreement helmed by the Centre with Mizoram govt, Tripura govt and Bru-Reang groups as the signatories, 40,000 people displaced from Mizoram due to ethnic violence were resettled.
The Modi govt had also resettled 11 villages at a cost of Rs 900 crore, Shah said. He added that these villages now had electricity, roads, drinking water, connectivity, solar street lights, subsidised grain shops, anganwadi schools, and health centres. “The Modi govt is providing the resettled Bru families with a monthly assistance of Rs 5,000 for 24 months,” he said.
At the Bru settlement came, members of the tribal community appreciated the govt for keeping its promises. Shah said, “I am happier than you all are… PM Modi too is happy that he could ensure your permanent settlement in Tripura.” He also directed officials to address grievances and issues raised by the community members without any delay.