AGARTALA / NEW DELHI, June 18 (TIWN): Chief Minister Manik Sarkar trying hard to fetch more central funds to continue the much needed funding for CPI-M cadres across Tripura. Due to recent cut in central govt fundings in MGNREGA and other schemes, CPI-M State machinery reeling under severe fund crisis as majority of these central funds are diverted for party use or misused by ruling party machinery. Manik Sarkar's close aide BDO Bimal Chakraborty was involved in Rs. 51 crore MGNREGA scam, also Chief Minister was kind enough to save his close aide by not allowing Police to file chargesheet within stipulated 180 days time, as a result scamster Bimal was released on bail. On wednesday press conference at Seretariat confrence hall, Chief Minister Manik Sarkar said, “No fruitful solution has been brought yet today to the problems of the north eastern states, rather PM Modi has called the Chief Ministers of the 8 NE states at NITI Aayog meeting to be held soon,”. Briefing his meeting with PM Modi Sarkar said, “After several persuasions PM Modi has called me separately to meet him at his office to discuss the issue of the special category status, but despite raising the issue on behalf of eight north eastern states PM has rather invited us at NITI Aayog meeting.” Adding to that Sarkar said, “CMs of all the eight NE states had discussed the matter and expressed concern over any move to withdraw the status under which the states have been getting additional funds.

However the statement has come after meeting with Prime Minister Narendra Modi at New Delhi on June 16.  Sarkar who is also a CPI-M politburo member urged Prime Minister to retain Special Category status for all the north eastern states

”Emphasising that any cut in central assistance will adversely impact welfare schemes and infrastructure development, Sarkar has urged the Prime Minister to retain the special category status. Sarkar reiterated “After studying the 14th Finance Commission recommendations and the union budget for the current fiscal, it appears that the special category status of the north eastern states is going to be discontinued.” “It has been learnt from the 2015-16 central budget that most of the centrally sponsored schemes would be cut whereas the sharing pattern of the existing schemes would be changed. Either it would be 75:25 or 50:50,” adding Sarkar on Wednesday said, “But we strongly demand the sharing patter of 90:10 which existed earlier.”

He said that it is not only the problem of Tripura but also the problem of all the eight north eastern states that are now on a spree demanding for the special category status. “But the Modi government has not yet brought ‘acche din’ for us and for the NE states,” Sarkar reiterated.

“The special status must be retained to ensure that these states continue to avail financial help and assistance from the central government to help bring the backward states at par with the other states,” Sarkar added saying, “Let us see what happens in NITI Aayog meeting if any fruitful solution comes in to the crisis of the 8 NE states.”

CM Manik Sarkar on Wednesday added, “Chief Ministers of all the eight north eastern states on April 23 had send a resolution to PM Modi urging for a special category status, but following no response from him I had again send him a letter on June 8 taking up the same issue.” Sarkar also said, “Later the DoNER Ministry finalising an appointment with PM called me.” Tripura CM on behalf of 8 NE states went to Delhi to meet PM Modi and discussed the special category status on June 16.

“Despite seeking a joint meeting with all the Chief Ministers of the NE states, PM Modi denied it saying ‘not necessary’ rather the NITI Aayog meeting would take up the issue again if required,” Sarkar briefed on Wednesday.

However, interestingly the so called clean imaged poorest chief minister of the nation CM Manik Sarkar yet again failed to amaze Prime Minister Narendra Modi and has also failed to regain the ‘special category’ status for Tripura and for other north eastern states. It would be wise enough to comment here that Sarkar and his meeting with PM Modi has also failed to gain a momentum of ‘responsible CM’, after all the eight chief ministers of other NE states had asked Manik Sarkar to meet PM on their behalf.