Reject 'manik', acquire 'hira': Modi to Tripura voters

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday accused the Left Front government in Tripura of subjecting people to "slavery" and asked the voters to "throw it away".

Addressing two rallies in the poll-bound state, Modi coined a new acronym HIRA - H for highways, I for Internet way, R for roadways and A for airways - hardselling the BJP as a tool for ushering in prosperity and development in the state which the Left has ruled for 25 years without a break.

Launching a scathing attack on Chief Minister Manik Sarkar and his party, Modi said the people in Tripura feel intimidated by the communists.

"For something as basic as a ration card, people here have to approach the party office. Even when somebody gets murdered, the police do not register a case unless they get approval from CPM," he told an election rally at Sonamura in Sipahijala district, 50 km south-west of capital Agartala.

The communists here force common people to depend on them for everything, he said, adding "this is the new face of slavery".

He claimed Tripura has hardly witnessed any development under the Left rule.

The prime minister said people wear 'manik' (gemstone) for changing their fate, but this Manik (Sarkar) failed to bring prosperity to people.

"Throw away manik (Sarkar government) and go for 'hira' for prosperity and development in the state in the upcoming election," he said. He also promised 7th Pay Commission benefits to government employees if the BJP was voted to power.

The BJP, which hardly had any presence in the northeastern state, has, in the recent past, positioned itself as the key rival of the CPM-led Left Front in its bastion.