By TC News Desk
Agartala, 26th November 2024: The Twipra Students’ Federation (TSF), a member organization of the North East Students’ Organisation (NESO), staged a sit-in protest on Tuesday, opposing the Tripura Government’s decision to lease the historic Pushpabanta Palace, formerly the Old Governor’s House, to a private entity. TSF leaders warned of larger demonstrations if the government does not reconsider its decision.
Pushpabanta Palace, constructed by Maharaja Birendra Kishore Manikya, holds great cultural and historical value for Tripura. It is also significant as a site where Rabindranath Tagore stayed during his visits to the state.
Hamalu Jamatia, General Secretary of TSF, expressed strong opposition to the government’s move to lease the palace to the Taj Group for the establishment of a luxury hotel. “We welcome investments by Taj and other five-star hotel chains in Tripura to boost tourism and generate employment. However, we cannot support the transfer of a vital part of our heritage and identity to private hands. Pushpabanta Palace represents Tripura’s indigenous pride and cultural legacy. Development must not come at the cost of sacrificing our historical landmarks,” he said.
Jamatia added that the federation has urged the government to consider alternative locations for luxury hotel projects. “We organized this protest in front of Pushpabanta Palace to highlight our concerns. If our demands are not addressed, we will mobilize a massive rally involving Tripura’s indigenous communities to protect our cultural heritage.”
The controversy comes despite earlier plans to establish a digital museum in the palace. In 2022, then-Finance Minister Jishnu Dev Varma, now Governor of Telangana, had allocated ₹40 crore for converting the palace into the Maharaja Birendra Kishore Manikya Museum and Cultural Centre.
The TSF’s protest underscores the ongoing debate between heritage preservation and economic development in the state.
