AGARTALA, Sep 21 (TIWN): Shocking all present, Tripura Chief Minister Manik Sarkar used the Marxist lexicon of the 1960s on Wednesday, when he told the FICCI’s “Connect North East” conference that “ investors come to exploit”. Admitting it was ‘crude language’, Sarkar said : “ Investors don’t come to help our states, they come for profits.” And he kept reminding the august gathering that Tripura was a very poor state and “ our people are very poor,” even as his officials rattled claims and statistics about the state’s “phenomenal progress.” Sarkar rubbished the PPP (private-public partnership) model for infrastructure project as “ totally bogus”, forgetting that even Communist China allows both state and private sector industries a partnership role in such projects. So top honchos of FICCI and business leaders were shocked when Sarkar said “ why will private sector develop our infrastructure.” A top industrialist, on condition of anonymity said the Chief Minister has no idea that investment in infrastructure is “hugely profitable” . “ This man has no idea of the world of business and how it has changed, which age is he living in,” the industrialist said.Many felt statements such as this will actually discourage investors rather than encourage them to come to Tripura , which has some obvious advantages, but pragmatism of leadership not being one of them.

Sarkar reminded potential investors that they will be helped by his administration  only if the government found their proposals acceptable. “ There is no need for a red carpet , your proposals should be acceptable to us , only then we will help you.”

The Chief Minister lambasted PM Modi for ‘demolishing the Planning Commission” . “ Tripura will lose Rs 1800 crores a year for this decision.”

The Chief Minister was perhaps upset by Niti Aayog member Bibek Debroy’s remarks that the FICCI summit was “ five years too early” for Tripura.  “ You may announce fiscal incentives and subsidies but that does not help. No big ticket investor will come unless there is physical connectivity,” said Debroy.

“ I am not an economist, but a common man, we understand how the economy works from our daily experience,” said Manik Sarkar .

Bibek Debroy is a top economist and it was not clear who was the chief minister’s target when he said : “ Some educated people are fooling us .”