Tripura govt works only for CPI-M not people: Rahul

Congress Vice President Rahul Gandhi on Monday called upon the people of Tripura to vote to remove the incumbent Left Front government that works only for the Communist Party of India-Marxist organsation.

Addressing an election rally at Sonamura in West Tripura in the presence of a huge gathering, Rahul said, “In all other states in the country there is a government and the people. But in the Left Front-ruled Tripura, the CPM organization stands between the government and the common people. So, it is high time you use your valuable vote to remove the organisation standing between you and the government.”

“For 20 years, the Left Front has been ruling in Tripura. People are not given the power to decide unlike all other states in the country. So you remove the Left Front as you have done in Kerala and West Bengal. The Left Front works for itself and the CPM, not for the people,” he said, while promising a people-friendly and people-sensitive government if the Congress is given a chance to rule Tripura after the February 14 election.

He accused the CPM of siphoning off the development and welfare funds provided by the central government for people of the state to the party coffers while the ‘terror-struck’ people are forced to remain mute spectators.

“All contracts in government schemes in Tripura go to CPM cadres or officials; all jobs are given to CPM party men. If you are

not in the ranks of the CPM, you are not going to get any benefit from state government. It was like the days in erstwhile communist-ruled Soviet Russia, Romania, and Czechoslovakia where the people ultimately threw communist rulers to oblivion. Even communists in China told me that it was time for communists in India to understand the market (market-driven economy). The ideology of communists in India has become obsolete and people are bound to suffer if they are in power,” Rahul said.

He promised a Congress government in Tripura would ensure implementation of the 6th Pay Commission in the state and mitigate the burgeoning unemployment problem.

He promised utilization of central assistance provided to Tripura in cent per cent for the benefit of the people.

“I will ensure that the voice of the people of Tripura reaches New Delhi. Not only Tripura, but the voice of every State in the country should reach Delhi so that the Centre can take adequate steps to resolve the problems of the States,” he said.

Gandhi termed the unique history of the northeastern states very important for the country and mentioned that the Nehru-Gandhi family has a special place in its heart from the people of the northeast.

At the outset of his addressed Rahul apologised on behalf of the Congress president and his mother Sonia Gandhi for her failure to come for electioneering in Tripura on Sunday because of her illness.