Agartala: In a rare meeting between the political right and the left, Prime Minister Narendra Modi today interacted with Tripura's Marxist cabinet here at the latter's invitation and hailed the state's successful strategy in curbing the three-decade-old insurgency.
An impresssed Modi asked the state government to submit a detailed report on the strategy adopted by the Left Front government in the next meeting of the Planning Commission on December 7.
The Prime Minister, during his interaction wanted to know two success stories of the Marxists from Chief Minister Manik Sarkar who cited the tackling of the three-decade-old insurgency in the state as their main success. Addressing the media at here, Sarkar said he had told the PM that “we gave absolute freedom to security forces to act and we drew support of the masses, both tribal and non-tribal groups. The government also ran a political and ideological campaign to win over the disgruntled elements.”
On the PM's query about the whereabouts of the surrendered insurgent and how they were contributing to society, Sarkar said “we informed him that all returnees had started normal life by starting private business or helping the government in other sectors after receiving post-surrender vocational training and cash dole as a part of the surrender package.”
The state government also submitted a memorandum containing nine demands to the Prime Minister before he left for New Delhi after a three-day visit to the Northeast. The demands included PM's intervention for setting up a gas-based Urea fertilizer plant, an Indian Institute of Technology, Indian Institute of Management and a Central Agricultural University to benefit students of the NE region and adjoining countries like Bangladesh and Myanmar.
On developing bilateral relations with Bangladesh, the state government requested the PM to persuade Bangladesh government to allow multi-modal transportation of goods through Bangladesh with the Ashuganj port of call and Chittagong port.
Asked if the state government was satisfied with the Prime Minister's assurances during his visit to Tripura, Sarkar said “a Prime Minister has assured us development and consolidated approach towards utilization of resources and employment generation. I don't see any question of dissatisfaction here.”
