BJP promises greater autonomy to tribals in Tripura

AGARTALA,

Feb 9

(IANS): A week ahead of the Tripura assembly election, the ruling BJP on Thursday promised greater autonomy to tribals, increase in farmers’ financial assistance and setting up of rubber, bamboo and agarbased industries to make ‘Unnato Tripura, Sreshtho Tripura’.

The BJP said that if it returns to power after the February 16 assembly polls, it would establish the Maharaja Bir Bikram Manikya Tribal University, provide cooked food three times a day at Rs 5 per meal under the PM Kisan -- increase the financial assistance from Rs 6,000 to Rs 8,000 per annum, double the per-family annual cap from Rs 5 lakh to Rs 10 lakh under the Ayushman Bharat Yojana and housing to all registered beneficiaries.

Releasing the party’s manifesto - ‘Sankalp Patra 2023’, BJP president J.P. Nadda also announced setting up a Regional Institute of Medical Sciences hospital in Agartala.

Saying that Prime Minister Narendra Modi has promised HIRA (Highway, I-way, Railway and Airway) to Tripura and in this direction, the state has developed a lot, he announced that the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) would take Tripura on the path of DTH - development, transformation and harmony.

The manifesto promised a Balika Somriddhi Scheme, a bond of Rs 50,000 to each family belonging to the financially weaker sections on the birth of a girl and Mukhyamantri Konya Atmonirbhor Yojana to provide free scooty (two wheeler) to meritorious college-going female students.

The BJP also promised to provide two free LPG cylinders to all the beneficiaries under the PM Ujjwala Yojana, distribute land pattas to all eligible landless citizens, provide affordable housing to all registered beneficiaries under Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana Gramin and Urban by 2025.

The ‘Sankalp Patra 2023’ promised to provide

Meghalaya Cong manifesto promises

Rs 3,000 a month to single BPL mothers

free rice and wheat to all eligible PDS beneficiaries every month and provide edible oil at a subsidised rate, four times a year through the Public Distribution Systems.

It also promised to restructure the Tripura Tribal Areas Autonomous District Council (TTAADC) to provide it with greater autonomy and additional legislative, executive, administrative, and financial powers, within the framework of the proposed 125th Constitution Amendment Bill.

The saffron party also promised, under the proposed Matsya Sahayak Yojana -- annual financial assistance of Rs 6,000 to all fishermen, provide access to tap water in all households under the Jal Jeevan Mission by 2024, invest an amount of Rs 500 crore to provide collateral-free loans of up to Rs 10 lakh to MSMEs and Entrepreneurs with a 100 per cent credit guarantee cover.

The party also assured to provide smartphones to around 50,000 meri - torious college-going students under Mukhyamantri Yuva Yogayog Yojana, and launch the Tripura Road Maintenance and Upgradation Programme with an investment of Rs 1,000 crore to upgrade and modernise road infrastructure in the state over the next 5 years.

If the BJP comes to power in the ensuing elections, Rs 600 crore would be invested in the Tripura Unnata Gram Fund for further developing rural infrastructure, ensuring last-mile delivery of caste certificates by providing caste certificates within 15 days of submission of the application.

Establish Sachin Debbarman Performing Arts Academy to focus on popularising the state’s folk dance, music and theatre, expand the tourism economy of Tripura by investing Rs 1,000 crore and launch the Tripura Tourism Skill Mission to provide skill development training and employment to one lakh people, are the other promises made in the BJP election manifesto.

CPI(M) lashes out at BJP’s ‘Amrit kaal’, calls it ‘Jahar kaal’

AMARPUR (TRIPURA),

FEB 9 (PTI): The CPI(M) on Thursday lashed out at BJP’s slogan of ‘Amrit kaal’ (Golden age), and claimed that the right-wing party’s term in office should be described as ‘Jahar kaal’ (Poison age).

The Left party which is locked in a keenly contested battle in the northeastern state with the BJP, also alleged that its rival had launched an attack on the country’s constitution besides trying to use religion as a tool for political gain.

“Prime Minister Modi has said that his government has been giving free rations to the poor, but we find that the food subsidy in this year’s budget has been slashed by Rs 90,000 … This is not Amrit kaal, it is Jahar Kaal,” said CPI(M) politburo member Brinda Karat at a rally in Amarpur, 70 kms south from state capital Agartala.

Amarpur, a mixed populated subdivision of Gomati district, has three Assembly constituencies,

Brinda Karat

two of which - Birganj, Ampinagar - are set to witness triangular fights with all the three major political forces – Left-Congress alliance, Tipra Motha and BJP - contesting.

Interestingly, both BJP and its ally IPFT have fielded candidates in Ampinagar Assembly constituency, an ST-reserved seat.

“They are indulging in politics over religion. Their ideology of Hindutva has nothing to do with Hinduism as a religion. It is a political tool to divide our people for electoral gains,” the firebrand Communist leader said. She also claimed that the ruling BJP “has run a bulldozer over the constitution by destroying our constitutional institutions.”

The Left has long been alleging that BJP has been undermining institutions like the courts and media.

Alleging that the BJP has been destroying the democratic foundation of the country, she said the saffron party has been garnering crores of rupees by issuing anonymous electoral bonds. “The big industrial houses are pumping in huge money into the electoral bonds which are being used for election purposes,” she claimed.

Karat also said the Left parties have urged the Tipra Motha to fight alongside it in the election but the tribal party launched by a former member of the princely family which earlier ruled Tripura, did not respond.

“We told them to join hands with the Left Front which is fighting for the rights of indigenous people but they did not respond. The BJP will try to take advantage of division between them and the Left-Congress alliance in this election”, she added.

Meghalaya polls: BJP not against Christians, asserts party leader

Correspondent

TURA (MEGHALAYA),

FEB 9: “The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) is not against Christians or any other religion, but is against corruption like a “true Christian should be,” Meghalaya BJP Vice President, Bernard N Marak said on Thursday.

Meghalaya Congress at a press conference.

SHILLONG, FEB 9 (PTI):

The Congress in Meghalaya on Thursday promised monthly assistance of Rs 3000 to single BPL mothers and a job each to every household if the party comes to power in the northeastern state in the February 27 election.

In the Congress’ manifesto, which was released here, the party also promised to provide an uninterrupted electricity supply to commercial and domestic users, and bring in a law which will make it mandatory for the government to upload all files related to development and infrastructure on portals.

“If the Congress forms the government, it will transfer Rs 3,000 per month to single BPL mothers raising their children alone. This will empower women giving them financial independence and helping them run their houses in a better way. This translates to Rs 36,000 a year which is a substantial amount,” state Congress president Vincent H Pala said.

Single mothers face plenty of problems. As a large number of them have little or no education, it is difficult for them to get decent jobs in the state. The rate of child marriage and teenage pregnancy is also high in Meghalaya.

“Lack of decent employment opportunities in the state has fuelled the desperation amongst our youngsters and they are compelled to migrate to far-flung cities such as New Delhi, Mumbai and Kolkata to make both ends meet. Our second commitment is to provide one job to deserving candidates from every household in Meghalaya,” Pala said.

The Congress also asserted that the party would bring in a transparency law.

“The Congress government brought the Right to Information Act to empower common citizens but the (Narendra) Modi government at the Centre and the NPP regime in the state diluted the law step by step and ultimately left it inconsequential,” said Manish Chatrath, AICC General Secretary in charge of Meghalaya.

The new law would mandate the government to upload all files related to development and infrastructure on portals six months after their closure, which will reduce corruption to a great extent and bring in more transparency in governance, he said.

Large-scale unemployment is leading to smuggling of drugs from across the border “worsening the law and order situation,” said Chatrath insisting that the Congress is committed to make Meghalaya a drug-free state.

Pala said the Congress’ commitment to an uninterrupted power supply will not only boost the state’s industrial growth but also ensure children’s all-round development.

The Congress lost power in Meghalaya to an NPPled coalition in 2018.

Marak’s statement is significant in the wake of the RSS-affiliate Janajati Dharma- Sanskriti Suraksha Manch (JDSSM) that has decided to intensify its agitation demanding to delist converted tribals from the Scheduled Tribe (ST) list that entitles them for reservation in jobs.

“Meghalaya is a Christian state and all our candidates are by and large Christians or pro Christians. Does it mean that any of these candidates are anti-Christian or less Christian? If BJP candi - dates win elections, it is a boon to Christianity and BJP MLAs will always be at the frontline to protect, preserve and flag the issues of Christians before the Centre should the need arise,” Marak,who is contesting against chief minister and president of the ruling National People’s Party (NPP), Conrad K Sangma for the South Tura assembly seat, said. He said BJP’s manifesto gives equal opportunities to all sections of the society, namely, cast, creed, religion, culture and tribes.

“It is under this foundation that the party has been able to reach out to every person, every voter, and every common man within the community,” the former militant leader-turned politician explained.

Noting that the programmes and objectives of the BJP government in Delhi are designed to cater

Bernard N Marak

to all the citizens of the country, the state, urban and rural irrespective of their caste, creed or community, the party leader said, “the BJP government has been able to attain success in all fronts and with all programmes, especially for the welfare of the poor and the backward communities. With this background, there is no scope to deviate from its goal and objective which has been enlisted in the manifesto and the whole approach is to ensure development reaches out to all.”

Rubbishing the allegation that BJP is anti-Christian, Marak said, “there is no substance to allege the BJP on this ground. One example can be illustrated, where we have a BJP-run government in Nagaland, a state dominated by Christians. There is no confrontation to be seen or experienced by the people of Nagaland when the government is a BJP-run one. It shows that the party does not interfere with the lifestyles, culture, which includes food habits of the people of Nagaland.”

Marak, who was arrested on charges of human trafficking and was subsequently released on bail, justified that the Government of India has extended lots of projects through the Ministry of Minority Affairs to strengthen local infrastructure and traditional establishments in the state.

“In our own state

Manipur private school served notice for caning of girls

Correspondent

IMPHAL, FEB 9: Taking strong notice of caning students by principal, the Manipur education (school) department issued a show-cause notice to a private school asking it ‘why it should not be derecognized’. An incident of caning seven girl students of Enlighten Knowledge

Higher Secondary School at Sangakpham in Imphal East district allegedly by its principal went viral in the social media platforms like the Facebook recently.

Terming the incident as “unwanted”, the show cause notice issued by the director of the state education (school) department asked the principal of the school to explain as to why ac - tions should not be initiated against the school under relevant Acts and Rules in existence. The show cause notice issued by director L Nandakumar Singh directed the school authority to submit an explanation with information sought by the director on or before February 16, 2023 without fail. It directed the principal of the school to explain as to why actions deemed fit and proper under relevant Acts/ Rules in existence, should not be initiated against the school.

Meghalaya, BJP is a coalition partner in the MDA (Meghalaya Democratic Alliance) government. It is the BJP which has helped the state receive various projects from the Centre. These projects and schemes have been distributed fairly without any bias,” Marak maintained.

“Never have beneficiaries been asked about their religion while receiving benefits from schemes. Moreover, we have all experienced that while we are part of the government the party has worked handin-hand with the local and traditional institutions, all faith organizations to strengthen the needs whenever there is a need to do so. There is nothing to show on record whether in public domain, media or church congregations where they had expressed reservations about BJP,” he underscored.

The actions, as per the notice, included derecognition of the school or withdrawal of affiliation to Board of Secondary School (BOSEM) and Council of Higher Secondary School (COHSEM).