Agartala: Tripura government on Friday clarified that there was no move to rename Ujjayanta Palace, erstwhile royal abode of the Manikya kings, to Tripura State Museum.
“The debate seems to be derived from a wrong conception or wrong interpretation of a unique initiative of the state government to preserve the heritage building and simultaneously recognizing it before the world”, Tripura Forest Minister and prominent tribal leader Jitendra Chowdhury said today.
Indigenous Nationalist Party of Twipra, a tribal based party, has written to Vice President Hamid Ansari (who will inaugurate the new museum) protesting against the move, while the current head of Tripura royal family said he would launch a signature campaign against the proposed renaming.
The decision of housing the Tripura State Museum in the palace was taken in 1993, as it was made part of an accord signed between the Government of Tripura and one separatist outfit, which returned to the mainstream, Chowdhury told PTI.
“Since then 20 years have elapsed, but from no quarter or any individual any question was raised. The Tripura Legislative Assembly was housed in the palace till 2011. The structure was simultaneously known as Assembly building and Ujjayanta palace. The stature of Ujjayanta has always dominated and shall be dominating in future too”, Chowdhury said.
“The debate is very unnecessary, unfortunate and misconceived”, he added.
The minister said the massive structure was retrofitted with utter care and shall be opened for the public from September 25.
“So, a commendable job has been accomplished by the Government and the eminent artists & workers of our country to preserve and glorify it to the rest of the world. The name Ujjayanta shall further glow”, he added.
Vice President Hamid Ansari is scheduled to inaugurate new Tripura State Museum housed in the palace on September 25.
Ujjayanta Palace served as the Tripura state legislative assembly till 2011. It was built by Maharaja Radha Kishore Manikya during 1899-1901. (PTI)
