Tripura CM terms Five Year Plans ''defective''

Agartala, Aug 15 (UNI) Tripura Chief Minister Manik Sarkar today said that he considered the Five Year Plans responsible for slow development in backward areas of the country.

Addressing the gathering at the Independence Day celebrations here, Mr Sarkar alleged that most of the Centre's plans were defective in nature in that they were not for the common people and the Centre was only engaged in protecting the interests of the capitalists.

''Only 10 per cent of our total population is getting all the benefits of economic growth,'' Mr Sarkar pointed out.

Referring to the objectives of the 11th Five Year Plan, he stated that though it had given emphasis to agriculture, land reforms and other issues related to the interests of the farming community had not been resolved.

''We claim that the GDP achieved was more than the target fixed in the 10th Five Year Plan. However, it was only for a section of capitalists,'' Mr Sarkar said adding that he felt it was a ''jobless growth''.

He paid homage to the freedom fighters on the occasion of the 60th anniversary of Indian Independence and said, ''On this momentous occasion, we salute our founding fathers who had fought for our freedom tirelessly.'' Mr Sarkar has also highlighted that his government had strengthened and modernised the state police force while according priority to the attainment of self-sufficiency in foodgrains.

UNI