Agartala, Sep 23: A debate erupted in the Tripura Assembly on Tuesday after TIPRA Motha legislators expressed strong resentment over members of the royal family not being invited to the inauguration of the newly renovated Mata Tripura Sundari Temple in Udaipur, attended by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on September 22.
Raising the issue, TIPRA Motha MLA Biswajit Kalai and Pathanlal Jamatia questioned why no member of the royal family was invited to such a historic occasion. “Why was the royal family excluded from the guest list for this significant temple inauguration?” asked Kalai.
Responding to the query, Tourism Minister Sushanta Chowdhury clarified that under the instructions of Chief Minister Dr. Manik Saha, the state government had initially included names of royal family members, three Members of Parliament, and other dignitaries in the guest list. However, he added, the Prime Minister’s Office (PMO) later issued a revised list from Delhi’s South Block, which retained only the names of East Tripura MP Kriti Devi Deb Barman, who belongs to the royal family, and TIPRA Motha MLA and minister Animesh Debbarma.
“There was no question of negligence. The state government made every effort to ensure representation from the royal family,” said Minister Chowdhury.
The matter was further discussed by TIPRA Motha MLA Ranjit Debbarma, Congress MLA Birajit Sinha, Minister Animesh Debbarma, Minister Ratanlal Nath, and finally by the Chief Minister himself.
Ranjit Debbarma informed the House that he had spoken to TIPRA Motha chief Pradyot Kishore Deb Barman over phone on September 22, who confirmed he was outside the state and had not received any invitation. “Even the Rajmata was not invited,” he added.
Education Minister Ratanlal Nath clarified that the state government had prepared a detailed guest list for the Prime Minister’s reception at MBB Airport, Palatana, and the Mata Tripura Sundari Temple. However, since the Prime Minister was visiting solely for the temple inauguration and puja rituals, without any public meeting or speech, the final guest list was prepared by the PMO as per protocol.
Congress MLA Birajit Sinha also raised questions on why opposition MLAs were not invited. “Is this temple meant only for the ruling party?” he asked.
Finally, Chief Minister Dr. Manik Saha addressed the matter, stating: “The Prime Minister came only to offer prayers and inaugurate the temple. If there had been a public meeting, naturally everyone would have been invited.”
