After meeting with Modi, Tripura CM criticises NDA govt

Agartala, Dec 3: A day after interacting with Prime Minister Narendra Modi during his visit to Tripura, Chief Minister Manik Sarkar on Dec 2 called for a movement to press the NDA government for changing its outlook so that marginalised people could be benefitted.

Inaugurating a scheme of transfer of cash subsidy into bank account of consumers for purchasing mustard oil and pulses under Public Distribution System network here,

Sarkar criticised the Centre for "not taking pro-people policy". A movement was needed to press the NDA government at the Centre to change its outlook towards national policy so that marginalised people could be benefitted, Sarkar, also a politburo member of the CPI(M), said. [For Tripura's Marxist sarkar, Modi isn't an enemy: PM meets state ministers]

"The NDA government failed to keep its promise of adopting pro-people policy after coming to power. The BJP government did not attempt to curb the price hike of essential commodities. It rather took decisions for the sake of the capitalists in the country and abroad," Sarkar said.

In a rare meeting between the political right and the left, Modi yesterday interacted with Tripura's Marxist cabinet here at Sarkar's invitation and hailed the state's successful strategy in curbing the three-decade-old insurgency. [Tripura CM's invitation to PM Modi: Bengal's leaders have always been politically selfish]

The Left Front government would try to provide subsidy to a few more essential commodities in future if adequate funds could be arranged, Sarkar said. Minister for Food, Civil Supplies and Consumer Affairs, Bhanulal Saha said 65 per cent of beneficiaries have applied for the new scheme so far.

"As the state government cannot control price hike directly, the scheme is there to help the marginalised people to buy required food commodities," Saha said.

People under the PDS would be given cash subsidy of Rs 35 into their bank accounts in lieu of supply of one litre of mustard oil and two kg of pulses every month, he added. The scheme will be implemented in a quarterly basis where a beneficiary would receive Rs 105 in every three months.

PTI