Tripura: Row over PM event invitation as assembly witnesses debate 

Agartala: A heated debate rocked the Tripura Legislative Assembly on Tuesday after the Tipra Motha Party and the opposition criticised the state government for sidelining the royal family and opposition legislators during Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s visit to Udaipur to inaugurate the redeveloped Tripura Sundari Temple.

Raising the issue, Tipra Motha MLA Biswajit Kalai asked why no member of the Manikya royal family, who established the temple centuries ago, was invited. Fellow MLA Ranjit Debbarma added that royal scion Pradyot Kishore Debbarma and even the Rajmata were excluded. Congress leader Birajit Sinha also questioned why opposition MLAs were kept out, remarking, “Is the temple only for the ruling party?”

Tourism Minister Sushanta Chowdhury clarified that Chief Minister Manik Saha had directed the inclusion of royal family members in the guest list, but the Prime Minister’s Office (PMO) issued a revised protocol list allowing only East Tripura MP Kriti Devi Debbarman and Tipra Motha minister Animesh Debbarma. Education Minister Ratan Lal Nath echoed that the PM’s strictly religious visit did not include a public function, hence the restricted list.

Defending his government, CM Manik Saha said, “Had there been a public meeting, everyone would certainly have been invited.”

Pradyot Kishore Debbarma later told reporters that the presence of a Tipra Motha minister at the ceremony was a matter of pride, while Opposition Leader Jitendra Chaudhury accused the BJP of running the country “like a private limited company.”

Congress MLA Sudip Roy Barman also joined the attack, even as IPFT ally Shukla Charan Noatia attended the event.