AGARTALA, July 15 (TIWN): Congress President Birjit Sinha counterattacking Chief Minister Biplab Deb’s claim that no govt gave free rice in state, said, “What kind of claim it is that no govt gave free rice before BJP Govt was here. This is a common thing each govt does when necessary. Moreover, public are not subjected to charity by a govt with unnecessary boasting”.

Tripura Chief Minister Biplab Deb on Saturday while addressing on the occasion of Ratha-Yatra festival at Iskcon here in Agartala said, "It hurts me really that people of Tripura are so poor that we are bound to give them rice at free of cost, when our Prime Minister Narendra Modi is planning to provide laptops to people".

"In the era of digitalization, when country is in race of competition we are giving people food at free of cost. So much of poverty is existing here min Tripura.....it's really sad", CM said.

"I am the Chief Minister only since four months, but the previous govt ruled here for long 25 years. They did nothing for the state", he said. 

"This is the first govt who is giving 20 kilo of rice per poor families across 10 blocks", CM added.