Agartala, Nov 29: The Twipra Indigenous Students’ Federation (TISF) staged a massive protest on Friday, opposing the state government’s move to privatize the historic Pushpabanta Palace and convert it into a 5-Star hotel under the Taj Group.
The protesters holding placards and banners marched through the city and later gathered in front of Chief Minister Manik Saha’s residence, demanding an immediate rollback of the decision.
A delegation led by TISF in-charge James Debbarma and TIPRA Motha MLA Biswajit Kaloi submitted a memorandum for the Tourism Director, urging the government to preserve the palace’s historical and cultural legacy.
Tensions escalated when protesters learned that Tourism Minister Sushanta Chowdhury, in a press briefing at the state Secretariat, confirmed plans to establish a hotel in the century-old palace.
In response, protesters diverted their rally to Chief Minister Manik Saha’s residence, blocking roads and raising slogans.
“The government’s move to commercialize a site of such historical importance is unacceptable. We will not allow the palace to be reduced to a business venture though we are not against development, and so a different plot of land may be given for the proposed hotel,” said TISF’s James Debbarma.
