I have made it clear that before rapid industrialisation we need to develop infrastructure And I don't think I have made any major mistake in the past five years:Said Tripura CM Manik Sarkar.

13 Feb 2013

Tripura chief minister Manik Sarkar says his government has steered clear of 'mistakes committed' by the Left Front government in West Bengal and the LDF government in Kerala. In an exclusive interview to ET, Sarkar, who has been at the helm for the past 15 years, exudes confidence that his party will retain power in Thursday's assembly elections. Excerpts:

How did the Left Front manage to stay in power in Tripura, when it lost polls everywhere else?

I think you are referring to West Bengal and Kerala where our party lost the 2011 elections. In Kerala, we had been defeated earlier too, but West Bengal was an exception. Frankly, Tripura, West Bengal and Kerala are all different from each other. In Tripura, we believe in keeping in constant touch with the people throughout the year. The opposition is so scattered and isolated that it has failed to develop ties with the common people. This continuous touch with the common people through our party units is the secret of our success. This time, too, will not be an exception since we are contesting on the basis of our achievements.

Is there extra pressure because of the debacles in West Bengal and Kerala?

Not at all! We have no Nandigram, no Singur. I don't think I have made any major mistake in the past five years. I am in no hurry to bring industry here and I have not gone for any forcible land acquisition. I have made it clear that before rapid industrialisation we need to develop infrastructure, such as improved road and rail links, and establish more small airports in the state.
I have not committed mistake of forcible acquisition: Tripura CM Manik Sarkar.

Time and again, we have raised these demands for Tripura's development. The opposition has not supported us. Naturally, it has failed to rally the people. There has never been any threat to the unity and integrity of the Left Front in Tripura though we are tested by our people everyday. Therefore, there is no extra pressure.

Has the electoral battle turned easier because Trinamool Congress is not contesting?

Mamata Banerjee is not a political factor in Tripura. Our main political opponent is Congress, against which we have been fighting for the past 30 years. The Centre's negative attitude and its drifting policies have to stop. The people of our state know this very well and therefore the Congress slogan for vote to change the government will not work.

How do you respond to the charge that your government has failed to create employment in the past five years?

Our state has been deprived of about 10,000 crore by the 13th Finance Commission. Despite that, our government has been able to recruit no less than 20,000 unemployed youth in the past four years. Ours is a small state with a population of just about 37 lakh and do you think recruiting 20,000 people under such circumstances is easy?

We have about two lakh state government employees and pensioners and all of them get their salaries and pension on time. Moreover, we have extended the retirement age to 60 years, which has helped thousands of government and quasi-government employees, teachers and workers.

source:http://economictimes.indiatimes.com