Months ahead of the assembly polls in Tripura, the Congress on Thursday released a "charge sheet" against the state government, describing India's lone Left-ruled state as the "worst-governed" in the country.
Releasing the 51-page charge sheet, Congress general secretary and in-charge of northeastern states Luizinho Faleiro told reporters: "We have presented a 22-point charge sheet in the people's court."
"In the 19 years of uninterrupted rule of Left Front government in Tripura,%age of poor people, proportion of crimes, underdevelopment and corruptions have increased to a record extent," said Faleiro, who was accompanied by all top leaders of the state unit, in Agartala.
Elections to the Tripura state assembly are scheduled in February 2013.
Claiming the misrule of the Communist Party of India-Marxist led government in Tripura was a "classic example" in the country, Faleiro, a former Goa chief minister, said: "The Tripura government has got thousands of crores of rupees under the 16 flagship programmes of the UPA (United Progressive Alliance) government, but the people did not get any benefit from these schemes."
He also claimed that 67.78% of Tripura's population was living below the poverty line, against the national average of 27%.
"Why do 76,000 people of Tripura not have two square meals a day? Why there is no drinking water source in 2,877 habitats out of 8,132 habitations? Why are 155,766 families homeless? Why do 70 people commit suicide every month? Why is crime against women highest in the country in Tripura?" read the charge sheet.
{{/usCountry}}"Why do 76,000 people of Tripura not have two square meals a day? Why there is no drinking water source in 2,877 habitats out of 8,132 habitations? Why are 155,766 families homeless? Why do 70 people commit suicide every month? Why is crime against women highest in the country in Tripura?" read the charge sheet.
{{/usCountry}}Highlighting "28 major scams" during the Left regime, the charge sheet said: "The Lokayukta act in Tripura is a politically motivated legislation with a view to save the corrupt ruling party leaders and for the purpose of legalising all cases of corruption committed during the 19-year rule of Left parties."
The Congress charge sheet also alleged that "a large number of popular and influential Congress leaders, including elected representatives, prominent youth leaders, trade unionists and activists right from the village level have been eliminated over the years as part of a systematic political vendetta".
"The Congress time and again demanded for a judicial probe by a sitting Supreme Court judge to inquire links between the terrorists and any political party in Tripura, but the Left government has been rejecting the demand as their nexus with the extremists would be exposed."