PM's visit to Tripura cancelled

Agartala, Jul 17, 2011 : Prime Minister Dr Manmohan Singh’s visit to Tripura was cancelled. The Prime Minister was schediuled to inaugurate the nes Assembly Building in the capital Complex on July 22 next. Accordingly all plans were made and security arrangements were put in place.

But on Saturday Dr Singh informed Tripura Chief Minister Manik Sarkar that he would not be able to come to Agartala for some urgent works. 

It is widely believed that recent developments related to political opposition, police actions and press anger played a role behind the sudden cancellation of the Prime Minister’s visit.

Congress had in a direct letter to the Prime Minister on Saturday itself requested him not to visit Tripura in the wake of ‘undemocratic’ actions of the Left Front government here on Congress and also on media personnel.

The letter which was sent to Prime Minister directly by PCC sought to detail the police atrocities committed on opposition workers and media persons and requested him not visit Tripura. Union Minister Mukul Wasnik who had visited with two other leaders Agartala to take stock of the situation also submitted a report to the AICC president Sonia Gandhi. Following the report Sonia Gandhi also sent personal condolence letter to the slain youth Papai Saha’s family and also another letter praising the PCC movement under the leadership of Surajit Datta.

Apparently the Prime Minister’s Office took the decision under the AICC instructions and cancelled the visit.

Many believe that AICC is taking keen interest in Tripura politics in an attempt to oust the Left Front in 2013. This is perhaps for the first time AICC is sending their political representatives time and again to Tripura to look after the party matters and is monitoring the party movements directly from Delhi. Besides, Sonia Gandhi’s personal letters to Papai Saha’s family as well as to PCC president over the agitation programmes also are indicators of the AICC’s determinations. The cancellation of Prime Minister’s proposed visit to Tripura would also not only send a message in this direction but also act as booster for the opposition Congress in Tripura.

Official sources here indicate that the inauguration of the Assembly Building would be now laid by Governor D Y Patil on the same day where Chief MInister and his cabinet colleagues would be present.