AGARTALA, Sep 5 (TIWN): Tripura Chief Minister Biplab Deb on Wednesday said that in his childhood he used to play football with pomelo.

"In our childhood hours after hours we used to play with pomelo. Indeed football was the passion of Tripura on that time. In the afternoon even after mother's continuous calling, I didn't leave the field and that was a great culture, but now all the focus has been shifted to drugs for youths", CM said.

"In today's time in the name of sports, children go out of the home but take drugs secretly. This is not Tripura's culture. Tripura's culture is Kho-Kho game, Pomelo, Footbal etc but they (CPI-M) have destroyed the culture", CM added.

The Chief Minister was addressing about the importance of sports and the bad affects of drugs in mind and health.