BY TC News Desk
Agartala, 28th September 2025: Former Chief Minister and senior CPI(M) leader Manik Sarkar today criticized the state government, saying that despite the start of Durga Puja, two-thirds of the population is struggling financially, with common people enduring poverty and hardship.
Sarkar made the remarks while attending a blood donation camp organized at the SFI headquarters, a program the organization has maintained for 22 consecutive years.
He recalled that during the Left Front government, special efforts were made for rural development work well ahead of the Puja. “Departments like REGA and TUEP would carry out work for 15–20 days before the festival, ensuring that workers received payments 6–7 days in advance. The current BJP government has failed to do this,” he said.
Highlighting the plight of the majority, Sarkar said, “The festival cannot be truly celebrated when two-thirds of society is excluded. Today, these people lack money, and the situation in villages is particularly grim. The government has not undertaken any meaningful development work, nor has it helped people with essentials like food or new clothes for Puja.”
He also criticized the government’s focus on inaugurating Puja mandaps and organizing carnival events, saying these efforts fail to bring joy to the lives of ordinary citizens.
Sarkar emphasized that rural areas are in a worse condition than cities, and he blamed the government’s indifference and lack of principles for the financial crisis faced by the people today.
