Cong, CPIM stitched alliance to protect "Loot Ki Dukan": PM Modi at public rally in Tripura

Agartala (Tripura) [India], April 17 (ANI): Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday hit out at the Congress, CPIM-led INDIA bloc in Tripura and alleged that the Congress and CPIM used to be arch-rivals in Tripura and were compelled to stitch an alliance in order to make sure that their "Loot Ki Dukan" could function without any disruption.
The Prime Minister was speaking at an election rally here in Agartala's Swami Vivekananda Maidan. In the presence of Chief Minister Manik Saha, BJP state President Rajib Bhattacharjee, Union Minister Pratima Bhoumik, and other senior leaders.

In his address, the Prime Minister urged the voters of Tripura to cast their vote in favour of BJP candidates--former CM Biplab Kumar Deb from West Tripura and Maharani Kriti Singh Debbarman from East Tripura.
The Prime Minister said each of the votes that people of the state would cast in favour of the NDA and BJP would act as the founding blocks of Viksit Bharat and Viksit Tripura.
Accusing the Left and Congress of "corrupt practices", the Prime Minister said, "When the Left used to rule Tripura and Congress was the principal opposition party, corruption took centre stage in governance. There was an organised loot of resources. Just to protect this 'Loot Ki Dukan', both parties have now entered into an electoral understanding. They are fighting together."
The Prime Minister also lambasted the Congress and Communist Party for being 'opportunist' in their political policies.
"The Communists have taught us the politics of destruction. The politics of Congress reeks of corruption. These two parties are so opportunistic and obsessed with power that in Tripura, they are together but in Kerala, they shout at each other with ugly jabs. We all know that after being defeated in UP, the prince of the Congress party went to Kerala," he said.
"When the Communists refused to give him a safe passage in these elections, he called the Kerala Chief Minister corrupt. If any of the central agencies take action against this, this same Congress will scream against the central government," he added, assuring that anyone who is involved in corruption will get punished for sure.
According to the Prime Minister, whenever the government tries to take action against corrupt people Congress seeks to interrupt the process as if they have the single-point agenda of "Bhrastachar Bachao".
"Not a single vote should be polled in favour of the Congress and Communists. If you vote for them, you are wasting your vote. Vote for BJP and NDA means you are voting for Viksit Bharat, Samriddha Bharat and providing strength to the slogan of Modi's guarantee," the Prime Minister added.
Listing the BJP government's achievements in Tripura and North East region, the Prime Minister said, "When the Congress was in power, they had adopted the 'Loot East' policy for the North East region. They used to visit this part of the country whenever they required votes. I am the only Prime Minister who has made more than 50 trips to the North East in my tenure. I realized that the North East has a bigger role to play in making Viksit Bharat and hence the 'Loot East' policy was scrapped to roll out Act East policy."
He lauded Chief Minister Dr Manik Saha led the BJP government in Tripura and said, "I have promised to give HIRA model to Tripura. This model has created such a buzz that many states are trying to replicate based on the practical grounds of their region. The Manik Saha led government here is working on the HIRA plus model now. In terms of connectivity, Tripura witnessed a sea change."
In his brief speech, the Prime Minister highlighted how beneficiaries of centrally funded schemes are now living a good life. "Three crore new houses will be given once we get voted to power. This is my commitment, all Kutcha houses in Tripura will be converted into Pucca houses. This is a guarantee of the Prime Minister," he said.
The Prime Minister also spoke about the promise of free treatment schemes for elderly people.
In its election manifesto - 'Sankalp Patra', the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has vowed to maintain peace in the Northeast, among other key poll promises.
The party released its "Sankalp Patra" on Sunday last week (April 14) at its headquarters in New Delhi in the presence of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Home Minister Amit Shah and Defence Minister Rajnath Singh.
The party also said that it will continue its effective efforts to establish peace in the North-East and phase out the Armed Forces (Special Powers) Act.
The party further said that it will work to leverage the Northeast as a strategic gateway for Bharat's Act East Policy, ensuring connectivity, education, health, economic development and security.
BJP also promised to build 'sarovars' to manage floods in the Northeast.
There are two parliamentary seats in Tripura. The West Tripura parliamentary constituency will go to the polls on April 19 and polling for East Tripura is slated for April 26. (ANI)