Modi lauds Tripura’s success over terrorism: CM

Agartala, 2 December 2014

Prime Minister Narendra Modi is keen to tell the other states the Left-ruled Tripura’s success vis-a-vis four decades of terrorism, Chief Minister Manik Sarkar has said.

At his meeting with the state’s ministers here Monday, Modi wanted to know how Tripura overcame the challenges posed by terrorists so that he can share the story with the rest of India, Sarkar told the media.

“I told the prime minister that with the help of the people and family members of terrorists, we fought the militants ideologically and politically,” the chief minister said.

“Security forces also very cautiously dealt with the extremists, their collaborators and suspected rebels.

“The prime minister appreciated our sincere efforts in curbing militancy in Tripura,” Sarkar added.

Sarkar said Bangladesh’s positive attitude also helped to crush militancy in Tripura.

“Bangladeshi security forces have demolished many terrorist camps in that country and cracked down against the northeast militants taking shelter in that country,” the chief minister added.

Sarkar said security forces had been told that while dealing with militants, innocent people should not be harassed.

“Though the militancy is largely tamed, it is not fully wiped out. We are not complacent,” he said.

“Our efforts are on to fully curb the root cause of militancy in Tripura.”

Modi asked Sarkar to send a note to him explaining how terrorism was tackled in Tripura. “I told him I will send the note soon,” Sarkar stated.

Tripura shares a 109-km border with Mizoram and a 53-km border with Assam besides a 856-km border with Bangladesh.

Mamata ridicules Sarkar’s Modi invite, calls CPI-M, BJP brothers

Ridiculing Tripura Chief Minister Manik Sarkar, who leads the sole surviving Marxist regime in the country, for inviting Prime Minister Narendra Modi, West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee Tuesday dubbed the CPI-M and the BJP as “brothers in arms”.

Addressing a party workers meet in North Bengal’s Siliguri, Banerjee, also the Trinamool Congress chief, hit out at the Narendra Modi led central government accusing it of “fooling and cheating the people of the country.”

“The CPI-M (Communist Party of India-Marxist) has invited Modi to Tripura. CPI-M, BJP are now brothers in arm. One is the younger brother, the other the older. They are shameless, to the people, they show they can’t stand each other but now their cozying with each other is out in the public,” she said.

Modi, who was in Tripura to inaugurate a gas-based thermal power project, Monday met Sarkar who had invited the prime minister to address the state cabinet on his favoured theme of good governance.

Continuing her tirade against the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) led central government, Banerjee claimed the her state was being denied funds under central schemes.

“Delhi has stopped funds under 100 days’ work. And is taking away major share of our revenue. The centre is also not paying our due share of funds.

“The centre deregulated prices of fuel. Soon after coming to power, the BJP hiked FDI in railways, defence. There is a limit to fooling people. The centre is cheating people,” she said.

Banerjee also ridiculed Modi endorsed Swachh Bharat mission, saying: “We do not pose with brooms before the camera.”