AGARTALA, August 12 (TIWN): "The royals of Tripura didn’t make any contribution in the expansion and consolidation of education system in the state", Chief Minister Manik Sarkar said today. In an apparent attempt to distort facts and contributions by Maharajas of Tripura, CM avoided mentioning of Tripura's royal family's contribution in education and establishing educational institutes like MBB College (Maharaja Bir Bikram College) and overall developments by erstwhile Kings.

Addressing the golden jubilee programme of Womens’ College in Agartala, Chief Minister Sarkar said that the monarchs of Tripura didn’t do anything substantial to expand the educational ambience of the state. “They chose to keep education limited within the castle walls”, Sarkar said adding that the kings of the Manikya dynasty oppressed leaders of the Jana Siksha Andolan in 1945 for raising demands of education for all.

“The leaders of Jana Siksha Andolan like Sudhanya Debbarma, Dasharath Debbarma, Aghore Debbarma were tortured. They (kings) arrested Sudhanya and almost killed him inside the palace. A massive movement from the educated youths got him released later. Dasharath Debbarma had to flee to save his life”, Chief Minister Sarkar said.

“People from tribal communities, who were in the majority before 1947 were suffering from illiteracy, poverty and absolute absence of healthcare facilities”, he said.

The Chief Minister claimed that all brave volunteers of the Jana Siksha Andolan later merged with the Communist party which is bearing the legacy to the day. “The Left Front government has been working to provide a better life and a better future for the state since its inception in 1978 except the five years of coalition government in between”, he said.

“We have worked for women education. We have guaranteed 50 percent reservation for women in the three tier panchayats and ADC village committees before any state of the country. We are the best across the country in literacy with a 94.16 percent record”, Sarkar stated.

Sarkar came down on the Congress party and said that its consecutive governments before 1978 and the coalition government between 1988 till 1993 didn’t do anything for the state.

School education minister Tapan Chakraborty who attended the programme today said that the state government is planning to expand the education system of the state.

However, general public didn't buy much of these propagandas defaming Tripura Kings as people are well aware of their contributions in Tripura's education, designing and developing Agartala City, providing all necessary amenities which by any standards were much superior than present age. Also, a CM of a Multi-Ethnic State, better judgements and control over speech is desired to maintain communual harmony over sensitive issues.