Tripura Chief Minister Dr. Manik Saha on Friday took a sharp dig at the previous Left Front government, accusing it of neglecting the state’s religious traditions and historic sites. The Chief Minister said that the earlier regime “did not believe in pujas” and allowed several temples and heritage structures to deteriorate without proper care.Dr. Saha made the remarks while inaugurating the renovated Parasundari Kali Temple in Agartala, a shrine of historical significance that traces its origin to the royal period. Built during the time of the Manikya dynasty, the temple has long been regarded as an important centre of faith for local devotees. The Chief Minister said the renovation was undertaken by his government in response to longstanding public demand.
“But the previous government did not take any initiative to renovate or maintain this temple. They ignored people’s sentiments. Our government has restored this temple because faith and tradition are central to our culture,” Saha told the gathering. He further added that with the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, “faith in God and Sanatan Dharma has grown stronger across the nation,” which has helped preserve India’s civilizational identity.Highlighting the contributions of the erstwhile Maharajas, especially Maharaja Bir Bikram Kishore Manikya Bahadur, Saha reminded citizens that Tripura once flourished under royal patronage with well-planned markets, schools, colleges, and cultural spaces. He said it was “unfortunate” that these contributions were ignored for decades, and called on people to acknowledge history with pride.
The Chief Minister also appealed to citizens to promote local tourism and heritage instead of spending heavily on foreign destinations. “India has countless beautiful tourist places, including Tripura. The Prime Minister has stressed that the country’s money should not go abroad unnecessarily. We must visit and celebrate our own heritage sites,” he said.
