The communist intellect-just like the crop of hair on our head-ripens with age. But the meteoric rise of Tripura's present Chief Minister Mr Manik Sarkar-born in January, 1949 in south Tripura's Udaipur town-belies the adage. Having had what really was a baptism by fire Sarkar was drafted in the Student Federation of India (SFI), CPI (M)'s student front, through the turbulent food movement of mid sixties. But it took him only a few years before he made it to the CPI (M) state committee in 1972 at the age of only twenty three years. The people of the state including political pundits are well aware of Sarkar's elevation from a member of the CPI (M)'s all-powerful state party secretariat in 1978 to central committee in 1984. What the chief minister's career graph leaves unsaid is the ageold truth: leaders are born, not made. With his clean white image-certainly a rarity among Indian politicians-and high sensitivity to peoples' problems and issues Manik Sarkar has already proved that he is a man with a difference even among his partymen. He gladly took time off his hectic daily schedule of work to reply to the queries made by tripurainfo.com

Q1. Sir, your Government has already had a stint of more than four years in state power. With the next assembly elections close what would you identify as your Government's achievements ?

CM Tripura Yes, we have been in office for the last four years. During these four years, there have certainly been remarkable achievements and developments in several spheres. The prime objective of the left front government's has been the upliftment of standard of life of the poor people of the society, in particularly the families living below the poverty line. In this area, we have been able to bring out some change and advancement. Earlier, the BPL population in the state was 78% of the total population. This have been brought down to 67%. We attach highest importance to this aspect, as it acts as an important indicator of development as a whole. Our literacy percentage is 76% which is more than national average and second in the Northeastern states. Our infant mortality rate is 42 per 1000 which is better than the national average. Our figure of pre and post natal death of mothers is also below the national average. Other areas where also we have been able to bring about remarkable change and advancement are-expression of irrigation facilities, housing for the poor, arrangement of drinking water facilities in rural as well as in urban areas, road communication and power connectivity, etc. Detailed accounts of these achievements have been given several times. Democracy has been extended to the grassroot level, both in the rural and urban areas. The Gram Panchayats and Nagar Panchayats, elected by the people, are active and functioning as vibrant bodies. Our approach to planning is completely changed. Now it is from bottom to top instead of top to bottom. People irrespective of caste, colour and creed have now been taking part at the grassroot level to chalk out their development plans for their respective villages, based on their day-to-day experiences. The agriculture sector is steadily improving and the area under cultivation is being expanded. Prospects of Industrial expansion are also improving.

Q.No.2: Sir, there is no denying that continued insurgency in Tripura over the past decade has taken a heavy toll on development, particularly in the hilly interiors. But for this phenomenon, what more could have been done to provide relief to the people?

CM Tripura Terrorist activities are disrupting the developmental activities in the State, particularly in remote areas which are pre-dominantly tribal inhabited . The officials responsible for implementing various projects are not able to visit different interior areas of the State frequently without security cover. Because of threat of the extremists, the contractors do not dare to visit the places of work and the extremists are demanding huge ransom from them. As a result, in many cases, completion of the projects is getting delayed leading to cost overruns. If this problem had not been there, we could have achieved more than double of what we have achieved so far, during the same period of time. In the face of extremist onslaught in remote areas, the teachers are afraid of going to the schools in different places. As a result, educational activities are being hampered in these areas and the tribal students, as a consequence, are the worst affected. The extremists are anti-national and for secession of the State and the North-eastern region from the mainland of the country, against development and welfare of the State and anti-people as a whole. The extremists are for destruction. Their aim is to disrupt the unity and integrity of the country, create communal divisions among the masses, jeopardize and weaken the democracy of the country and, thereby, help the enemy of the country and the vested interests.

Q3: Sir, there are reports of political leaders and parties having a close rapport with banned militant outfits. As home minister of the state do you have any specific information on this and has any remedial action been taken

CM Tripura : When a National political party joins hands with another political outfit which is directly involved with and working at the behest of the extremists, then all these questions have got no meaning. Recently some leaders of INPT, who are also executive members of TTAADC, have been charged with having links with the banned extremist outfits. A charge sheet for the same has been submitted in the Court against them. The matter is now pending for the decision of the Court.

Q4: Sir, there is apprehension among the people about the next assembly election being manipulated by banned militants in favour of a particular political party in view of what happened in the ADC elections held in April-May,2002. What is your reaction to this and what steps are being mooted to tackle the exigencies of the situation?

CM Tripura Of course, such an apprehension is not un-natural. Those who have tasted power by strangling democracy at gun-point, there is every possibility of their playing the same game again. The Congress also came into power in 1988 with the help of extremists. But the situation has changed. The people of Tripura have rejected Congress and its associates. No one should think that the experienced people of Tripura will just sit as onlookers and silent spectators. I have full confidence and faith in the people of Tripura that they will stand up and resist unitedly any attempt to take away their hard-won rights. No stone will be left un-turned to meet the challenge. In this endeavour of ours, I do hope that the Government of India would also extend a helping hand.

Q5: Sir, ideologically your party and BJP, dominant partner in the NDA coalition ruling in centre, are poles apart. Has this ever stood in the way of Tripura receiving its due share of central assistance towards development?

CM Tripura : So far ideological question and policy matters are concerned, there should be no doubt that we are poles apart. Despite all these differences it cannot be said that the Central Government is not providing any assistance for development of the State. At the same time, it is also true that we are not getting due assistance for rapid development of the State and to narrow down the gap of backwardness caused due to the apathetic attitude of Congress-led Governments at the Centre.

Q.6: Sir, depredations of militants over the past decade have led to forced displacement of thousands of tribal and non-tribal people in different parts of the state. Is there any specific rehabilitation package of the Government for the displaced people? If not what steps have been taken to help them?

CM Tripura : Most of the people who had to leave their homesteads in the aftermath of extremist attacks have returned to their respective villages or the nearby areas. The Government is providing all possible assistance to them.

Q.No.7: Sir, the twenty point programme announced by you for tribal development is an innovation. Are you satisfied with the implementation of the programme at the grassroots level and what has really been achieved by this?

CM Tripura : It is a 25-point programme, not a 20-point programme. Some of the points under 25-point package have already been achieved. Progress in other points is also positive. Our endeavour is to fulfill all targets within the stipulated time. But mention may be made here that there is no room for complacency and satisfaction that with the implementation of 25-point development package, all problems of the tribal people will be solved. Basic problems of the common people, including tribals, could not be solved until and unless the Central Government changes its anti-people policies and comes forward with pro-people policies to help the State Governments.

Q.No.8: Sir, apart from being the Chief Minister you are also an important leader of your party- a member of all-powerful CPI(M) politburo. How do view the prospects of growth of your party at the national level and do you really think that Marxism as an ideology is still relevant in view of what happened in Soviet Russia and East Europe?

CM Tripura : It is not true that our party is not expanding at the National level. It is a fact that our expansion is not up to our expectation. Our activities need to be strengthened among all sections of the society, particularly among the working class and the peasantry. We have also to pay due attention to our work among the Scheduled Castes, Scheduled Tribes and OBCs at all India level. It is evident from your question that Marxism has its relevance. Otherwise why would you think of it and you raise questions about it ?