Media Eye News Bureau: Union minister Nitin Gadkari recently stated that the people of Tripura were to be blamed for the state's ‘backwardness.’

He said, “I will not hold Chief Minister Manik Sarkar or his cabinet colleagues responsible for your backwardness. Rather, I will hold you responsible, because you did not change the government in 25 years.”

The union minister for road transport, highways and shipping further asserted, “There are hospitals here, but no doctors. You will find schools, but no teachers. There is not a single good industry in the state and the issue of employment generation remains neglected.”

He alleged that natural resources such as bamboo and rubber that were available in the north-eastern state were not used for development and the Left Front government had destroyed industrial prospects as well.

Gadkari added, “If voted to power, the BJP will take initiatives to bring investments to the state and generate jobs for the youth.”