Prakash Karat is a Politburo member of the CPI(M). (file photo)
Agartala:
Senior CPI(M) leader Prakash Karat said that the first decision of the Left-Congress alliance on coming to power in Tripura would be to revive the old pension scheme.
Addressing an election rally at Khairpur in West Tripura district on Sunday, he said the new pension scheme was not implemented in Tripura when the Left Front government was in power in the state.
“It was the BJP which started the new pension scheme in the state after coming to power in 2018,” he said.
The CPI(M) Politburo member said that the first decision of the Left-Congress after coming to power would be to bring back the old pension scheme.
He said, “In Himachal Pradesh, the Congress won the election and restarted the old pension scheme for employees, as it had promised. In Tripura, if the Left-Congress forms the next government, the same will be done.”
The Left Front and the Congress have promised to revive the old pension scheme in Tripura in an attempt to win the votes of 1.88 lakh state government employees.
Alleging that the BJP has failed to deliver in the northeastern state, Karat said, “The law and order situation in the state has deteriorated with 707 rape cases reported between January 2020 and December 2022. The offense is of slander.” The CPI(M) leader alleged that the BJP was spending huge sums of money to win the elections.
“People should be cautious about the way the BJP is spending money. We should foil the move to restore democracy in the state,” he said.
Stating that the victory of the opposition alliance in a small state like Tripura has national ramifications, Mr Karat said, “It will definitely give a boost to the nationwide movement to protect democracy and secularism, which are now under threat.” Congress General Secretary Mukul Wasnik and CPM leader Pabitra Kar, who is contesting from Khairpur Assembly, also addressed the rally.
The polling will be held on February 16 and the counting of votes will take place on March 2.
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