Kohima: Some 250,000 people formed a 323-km human chain in Tripura to draw the federal government’s attention to the northeastern Indian state’s several demands.
Tripura, the only Communist-ruled state in India, alleges the federal coalition government led by the pro-Hindu Bharatiya Janata Party has ignored its demand since it assumed power in May 2014.
The Communist Party of India (Marxist), which has been ruling the state since 1993, organized the hour-long unique protest on August 19. The chain covered virtually all parts of the state, reports indiatribune.com.
State Chief Minister Manik Sarkar led the protest and ministers, party workers and supporters as well as the people joined it.
The people braved heavy rain and inclement weather condition across the state to form the chain.
CPM state secretary Bijan Dhar said Tripura is a small state and the federal government often overlooks it demands. “Our government has been lauded by New Delhi for successful implementation of various Central schemes, yet when it comes to our state-specific demands, the Center had remained noncommittal. We thought that we should start a mass movement inside the state to draw the Center’s attention. Hence the human chain. The participation was massive,” he added.
The main demands are the withdrawal of the land acquisition bill, higher budgetary allocation to rural development schemes in the state, supply of 35 kg rice to each poor family for 2 rupees a kg and special economic package to the northeastern states.