LF, Cong aiding insurgency: Fernandes

Defence Minister George Fernandes has charged the CPI(M)-led ruling Left Front and the Congress with fomenting and aiding insurgency in Tripura.

Defence Minister George Fernandes on Sunday said the CPI(M)-led ruling Left Front and opposition Congress were "fomenting insurgency" in Tripura.

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"Both (Left Front and Congress) are fomenting insurgency in the state to suit their narrow political interests," the Samata leader told a public meeting at Banamalipur in the state capital.

Pointing out that the LF and Congress were "equally responsible" for insurgent activities in Tripura, he said political parties should work sincerely for solving insurgency in the state.

"If the state is not developed it will not be able to woo investors for exploitation of its natural resources," Fernandes said and asserted, peace is a pre-condition for Tripura's development.

He said the NDA government at Centre was "sincere" in solving insurgency problem in the north-east.

"Our government brought NSCN (IM) to the negotiating table," he said.

Criticising Congress for, what he described as, "false promises", Fernandes said the party in the poll manifesto promised creating posts in government departments to provide jobs to unemployed youths.

"But it is not possible to absorb all unemployed youths in government jobs," he said.