From Our Correspondent
Agartala: On the occasion of Tripura Assembly’s golden jubilee celebrations, Tripura Chief Minister Manik Sarkar has called upon legislators to strengthen the Parliamentary democracy to fulfill the aspirations of common people.
The state’s journey from princely regime to the parliamentary democracy was full of thrones and lot of people cutting across the political identity had contributed to the glorious journey, he said while speaking in a special session of Assembly convened to mark its golden jubilee celebrations.
“We must strive to expand and strengthen the foundation stone of parliamentary democracy which was laid by our beloved leaders to meet the people’s demand- a government elected by the people”, he said.
Recalling the state’s history, Sarkar said, “There was a move to merge princely ruled Tripura with Pakistan but it was not successful due to people’s outcry. Later, another initiative was taken to merge the state with Assam and fortunately it did not happen”.
After a long struggle, the state has finally achieved statehood in the year 1972, he said adding that this status should be protected and flourished at any cost. “The ruling party has to play vital role in strengthening parliamentary democracy. Besides, the opposition has also a role to enrich the hard earned democracy in the state”, he said.
However, Chief Minister lamented over the referring of some issues to the judiciary in stead of taking up them in the Lok Sabha or Assembly.
“Issues concerning to the people must be discussed and solved in either Lok Sabha or Assembly. And, referring such issues to the court is a sign of weakening parliamentary democracy”, he said.
Sarkar, of the Communist Party of India-Marxist (CPI-M) who has been ruling the state since 1998, said: “To strengthen democracy, ruling party must be responsive towards the voices of the opposition parties.”
“If the ruling and opposition parties work together for the welfare of the people, democracy would be more strengthened,” he said.Sarkar called upon the members of Assembly to uphold the dignity of parliamentary democracy to ensure welfare of people. Parliamentary Affairs Minister Tapan Chakraborty, Finance Minister Badal Chowdhury and opposition leader Ratan Lal Nath also spoke on the occasion.
Cutting across party lines, assembly members said that during the 550-year princely rule (until October 1949), development of people and the previous sovereign country was bogged down as the then kings were not keen for the wellbeing of the people, specially the tribals, even though the rulers were tribals themselves.
Deputy Speaker Pabitra Kar said a series of programmes would be organised to mark 50 years of the Tripura assembly, which had shifted to a newly built sprawling three-storey assembly building in July 2011 from the 112-year-old royal palace.
A seminar would be organised on the occasion in August to highlight the transition of Tripura from princely rule to democratic governance. Lok Sabha Speaker Meira Kumar would be the chief guest at the seminar.
At the end of several hundred years of rule by 184 kings, the princely state, along with Manipur, merged with the Indian Union in October 1949. It was then designated a union territory headed by a chief commissioner.
On July 1, 1963, the erstwhile Tripura territorial council was converted into the 30-seat Tripura legislative assembly by an act of parliament, with a council of ministers.
Veteran Congress leader Sachindra Lal Singh became the first chief minister of the state, heading a five-member council of ministers.
Under the North Eastern Region (reorganisation) Act, 1971, Tripura, Manipur and Meghalaya became full-fledged states Jan 21, 1972, each having a 60-seat assembly. (With inputs from IANS)