Tripura CM Manik Sarkar asks people to uphold communal harmony on 66th Republic Day

AGARTALA: Tripura Chief Minister Manik Sarkar today appealed to people to come forward to build a prosperous state and to protect and uphold the spirit of communal harmony and secularism.

Unfurling the tricolour at the Assam Rifles ground here, he said a small section of people in the state was trying to foment communal tension between the tribals and non tribals to divide the state and this menace could be contained with the united force of all sections of the people.

"We must uphold and protect the spirit of communal harmony, peace and secularism which can build up a strong and prosperous state as well as the country," he said.

Governor of Nagaland, P B Acharya, who is also holding the additional charge of Assam and Tripura was not present in the state.

Sarkar, who is also the home minister of the state, said the remnants of insurgency still existed and a small section of ultras were operating from across the border.

Tripura has 856 km long border with Bangladesh. He also criticised the NDA government for not being able to control the rise of prices of essential commodities and problems of unemployment.

"They made their poll pledge of solving the unemployment problem and control the price hike, but they failed to do anything, as a result of which common people are suffering," he added.

He also took guard of honour by the state and central paramilitary forces, state police and NCC and inspected the ceremonial parade.