Tripura: Left organisations launch mass convention

Agartala, May 15: Frontal organisations of Left parties have launched statewide mass convention in support of their nine-point demand, mostly related to the development of communication network in Tripura.

Speaking at the state level convention here yesterday, Convener of the organising committee and veteran communist leader Narayan Kar said, ''After 60 years of India's independence the state has not got a stable communication linkage with the rest of the country.'' The demands include extension of rail link up to southern border of Tripura, conversion of NH 44 into four lanes and bringing villages with population of less than 250 under the Bharat Nirman Programme.

Altogether 26 frontal organisations launched the mass convention.

The Left Front leaders stated that the party would organise campaigns at the village level in favour of their demands during the next three months and collect signatures from the masses which would be sent to Prime Minister Dr Monmohan Singh in August.

''The Railway ministry has been ignoring Tripura's demand for extension of rail line up to Sabroom though we tried to make them understand that if the line was extended, Tripura would be the corridor to Southeast Asia,'' Mr Kar said.

He added that Chittagong port could be used for transporting goods.

Meanwhile, six wings of the Tripura Pradesh Congress Committee submitted a memorandum yesterday to Governor D N Sahaya demanding fulfilment of their six-point charter of demands.

UNI