Rahul Gandhi addresses Congress rally in Agartala for Tripura polls

Congress Vice President Rahul Gandhi on Monday while addressing a poll rally in Tripura’s Sonamura called upon the people to oust the present Left Front government which, he alleged, that works only for the Communist Party of India-Marxist (CPM) party.

While speaking to the huge gathering, Rahul Gandhi said, “In all other states in the country there is a government and the people. But in the Left Front-ruled Tripura, the CPM stands between the government and the common people. So, it is high time you use your valuable vote to remove the organisation standing between you and the government.”

“For 20 years, the Left Front has been ruling in Tripura. People are not given the power to decide unlike all other states in the country. So you remove the Left Front as you have done in Kerala and West Bengal. The Left Front works for itself and the CPM, not for the people,” he said. The Congress Vice President also promised a people-friendly and people-sensitive government if the Congress is given a chance to rule Tripura in the February 14 election.

Rahul Gandhi also accused the CPM of siphoning off the development and welfare funds provided by the central government for people of the state to the party coffers while the ‘terror-struck’ people are forced to remain mute spectators. “All contracts in government schemes in Tripura go to CPM cadres or officials; all jobs are given to CPM party men. If you are not in the ranks of the CPM, you are not going to get any benefit from state government. It was like the days in erstwhile communist-ruled Soviet Russia, Romania, and Czechoslovakia where the people ultimately threw communist rulers to oblivion. Even communists in China told me that it was time for communists in India  to understand the market. The ideology of communists in India has become obsolete and people are bound to suffer if they are in power,” said Rahul Gandhi.

He promised a Congress government in Tripura would ensure implementation of the 6th Pay Commission in the state and mitigate the burgeoning unemployment problem. He promised utilization of central assistance provided to Tripura in cent per cent for the benefit of the people. “I will ensure that the voice of the people of Tripura reaches New Delhi. Not only Tripura, but the voice of every State in the country should reach Delhi so that the Centre can take adequate steps to resolve the problems of the States,” Assured the Congress leader. He termed the unique history of the northeastern states very important for the country and mentioned that the Nehru-Gandhi family has a special place in its heart from the people of the northeast.