BJP govt works for development of indigenous people: Tripura CM

Agartala: Denying the charges of financial deprivation against the Tripura Tribal Areas Autonomous District Council (ADC), Chief Minister Dr Manik Saha has claimed in the assembly that the BJP-led government in the state and the centre have been working for the development of indigenous people and the holistic development of the region instead of a sectarian approach. 

The ruling party of Tripura ADC and the principal opposition in the state assembly led by royal scion Pradyot Kishore Debbarman, TIPRA Motha, has been accusing the state government of not providing adequate funds to the ADC and requiring autonomy under the sixth schedule of the constitution, which has hindered the development of indigenous communities in the state. 

Refuting the allegations, Dr Saha told the assembly on Tuesday that the ADC administration had directly received Rs 537.25 crore in 2021–22, while the state government spent Rs 4,401.04 crore through as many as 49 departments under its control. Similarly, in 2022–23, ADC received Rs 543 crore directly, while the state government spent Rs 4,404 crore through its departments in the ADC areas. 

Reacting to the CM’s statement, Leader of the Opposition of TIPRA, Motha Animesh Debbarma, said, “I have been looking after the finances of TTAADC for a substantial period of time. I have never seen such a flow of funds in the TTAADC. I don’t know the source of the statistic you have shared.”