Tripura wearing the 'wrong manik': Narendra Modi's call for change

SONAMURA (TRIPURA): Prime Minister Narenda Modi has urged people of Tripura to vote for change in the upcoming Assembly elections saying they have been "wearing the wrong manik (ruby)" - a crack at long-serving chief minister Manik Sarkar - for the last 20 years.

Referring to precious stones prescribed by astrologers to rectify planetary influences, Modi said at a BJP rally in Sonamura: "When a wrong stone is worn, it creates more problems. People of Tripura have worn the wrong manik and it has caused immense trouble to the state."

Tripura goes to the polls on February 18 and the votes will be counted on March 3.


Modi said it was time for the people of Tripura to wear a "hira" instead. "We want to develop highway, I-way, roadways and airways. We want to bring the three "t" in Tripura. These includes trade, tourism and training for youth," he added.

Calling for "chalo paltai" (Come,let's change) Modi said,"The chief minister's surname is Sarkar, and he has the sarkar in his hand. We have heard of a magic government of West Bengal, but in Tripura here is a magic government ruling for last 25 years without any development."

The prime minister said that despite Communists launching agitations in different parts of the country over pay they were yet to implement the 7th pay commission recommendations in Tripura where they hold power.

"Communists in Kerala, West Bengal and Tripura want to use democracy for their own benefit. They want to rule in democracy by force," he said.

Accusing Communists of threatening to cancel ration cards of those who didn't vote for them in Tripura, Modi told voters they had nothing to fear now as the cards were computerised.

Modi also raised the Rs 60,000 crore Rose Valley ponzi scam in which a Tripura minister was among those investigated. "Poor people of Tripura were looted in Rose Valley," he said.