Agartala, September 23:
The second and final day of the two-day eighth session of the 13th Tripura Legislative Assembly on Tuesday witnessed heated discussion over the absence of royal scion Pradyot Kishore Debbarma at the inauguration of the redeveloped Mata Tripurasundari temple by Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
The issue was raised by Tipra Motha MLAs, who questioned why Debbarma, a prominent figure in Tripura’s royal lineage, was not invited to the historic event.
Responding to the debate, Minister Animesh Debbarma, also a senior Tipra Motha leader, along with Tourism Minister Sushanta Chowdhury and Minister Ratan Lal Nath, clarified that while MP Kriti Devi Singh Debbarma, a member of the royal family, had indeed been invited, however, she could not attend the programme.
The Ministers further explained that the list of dignitaries invited to Prime Minister’s programmes is finalized by New Delhi, with the state government only playing an advisory role in suggesting names.
The debate highlighted the sensitivities around Tripura’s royal heritage and its connection with the revered Mata Tripurasundari temple, one of the 51 Shakti Peethas which was established by Maharaja Dhanya Manikya Dev, a king of the Manikya dynasty, 524-years ago.
