Assam Chief Minister Sarbananda Sonowal on Friday lashed out at his Tripura counterpart Manik Sarkar for “rise in corruption, crime, unemployment and poverty” in the State. He said the northeastern States should work like a family with installation of BJP governments to ensure steadfast development and progress with support from the NDA government at the Centre.
Mr. Sonowal and BJP national general secretary Ram Madhav were speaking at a rally in Agartala. The rally was called to protest the murder of a tribal leader of the BJP at Ganddachara in Dhalai district last month.
The rally saw some Opposition leaders joining the BJP, including former Minister Surajit Datta. Mr. Datta recently resigned from the TMC following a feud with party leaders.
Mr. Sonowal and Mr. Ram Madhav expressed hope that the BJP would win the 2018 election in Tripura. Both the leaders claimed that the CPI(M) embezzled huge funds allocated by the Central government.
Probe into funds
Mr. Madhav said that if the BJP was voted to power in Tripura, it would probe assets and funds of the CPI(M). According to him, the CPI(M) amassed assets worth ₹5,000 crore through illegal means.
He alleged that crime against women in Tripura had hit a national record and investigation into crime incidents was done only after court intervention.
Arunachal Pradesh Chief Minister Pema Khandu and Assam Minister and Convener of the Northeast Democratic Alliance (NEDA) Himanta Biswa Sarma did not attend the rally. BJP sources said Mr. Sharma might visit the State in April to speak to a few tribal parties on possible alliance in the 2018 Assembly election.
