'Kushti' in Kerala, 'dosti' in Tripura: Modi attacks left-Cong alliance

RDHIKISHOREPUR: Lashing out at the Congress-CPI(M) alliance in Tripura, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday said that the two parties have strangely chosen 'dosti' (friendship) in the northeastern state as against their normal 'kushti' (wrestling) in Kerala.

Making a veiled reference to Tipra Motha, Modi claimed that some other parties were also helping the opposition alliance from behind but any vote for them will take Tripura several years backward.

"Old players of misgovernance have joined hands for chanda (donation). Those engaged in kushti (wrestling) in Kerala have chosen dosti (friendship) in Tripura, " the PM said at an election rally in Radhakishorepur in Gomati district.

"The opposition wants to divide the votes. Some small 'vote-cutter' parties are waiting for election results, hoping to get their price. Those out with dreams of horsetrading should lock themselves in their homes now itself, " he said.

Addressing another election rally in Ambassa in Dhalai district earlier in the day, he alleged that the Left and Congress governments created divisions among tribals, while the BJP worked to resolve their issues, including that of the Brus.

"The BJP is working for the upliftment of tribals across India. We have rehabilitated in Tripura over 37,000 Brus displaced from Mizoram. Our government has introduced the tribal language Kokborok in higher education," he said.

In the Union budget, the BJP government at the Centre has allocated Rs one lakh crore for the development of tribal areas, Modi said.

Referring to the fight against COVID-19, he said, "In a Left-ruled state, a lot of people suffered from coronavirus and died, but Tripura was safe as the BJP worked for protecting people's lives." Appealing to the people to vote for the "double-engine" government (BJP rule in Centre and state) to continue the streak of development in the northeastern state, he told the rally: "Beware of the double-edged sword of Congress and Left, they want to stop all schemes that benefit the people." Claiming that the Congress and Left know only how to betray the poor, the PM alleged that people have suffered due to years of their misgovernance.

"The two parties want the poor to remain poor. They have countless slogans for the poor but have never understood or addressed their pain," Modi said.

The PM said that houses under Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana were built for three lakh families, benefitting 12 lakh people, while five lakh poor people were made beneficiaries of the Ayushman Bharat Yojana, and toilets were constructed in four lakh houses in Tripura.

The first dental college in the state was also built under the BJP government, he said.

The PM said that in Gomati district alone, Rs 80 crore has been credited to the bank accounts of around 40,000 farmers, without any 'cut' or 'donation'.

"Earlier, CPI(M) cadres used to control police stations, while the BJP established rule of law in the state," he said.

Modi asserted that the BJP has freed Tripura from the atmosphere of fear and a culture of 'chanda' (donations).

"Earlier, the condition of women in the state was miserable. Now, they can come out of their homes with heads held high," he said.

The PM said that as there is peace in Tripura, employment opportunities are also increasing, whereas the Left and the Congress had shattered the dreams of the youths, forcing many to migrate.

"Your votes will keep the Leftists away from power and ensure continuance of 'double-engine' government in Tripura," he added.

Listing the initiatives taken by his government for the development of the state, Modi said that Tripura's economy will massively benefit from the Act East policy of the Centre and it will soon become the gateway to Southeast Asia.

"Work on four laning of road from Agartala to Churaibari is underway at a fast rate, while a new airport was inaugurated in the state capital, while optical fibres have been laid throughout the state for better internet services and waterways and railway connectivity between Tripura and Bangladesh is being strengthened," he said.