BJP Ally and Congress Contest Tripura Government's Proposal to Convert Historic Royal Palace into Hotel
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Agartala, Nov 28 (NationPress) The BJP’s coalition partner, the Tipra Motha Party (TMP), along with the Opposition Congress and several tribal groups, have voiced strong objections against the reported intentions of the state government to lease out the renowned Pushpabanta Palace to a private hotel chain.
The TMP’s youth faction, the Youth TIPRA Federation (YTF), along with the Tipra Students’ Federation (TSF), organized demonstrations in front of the royal palace in Agartala, urging the government to reconsider its plans and keep the iconic structure free from private ownership.
Protesters accused the ruling BJP of trying to erase the rich history and cultural identity of Tripura.
They contended that such a move threatens the state’s heritage, asserting that historic landmarks like the palace should be preserved for public access as representations of Tripura's legacy.
A delegation led by YTF President Suraj Debbarma delivered a memorandum to West Tripura District Magistrate and Collector Vishal Kumar.
Debbarma clarified that while the YTF does not oppose development projects or the participation of private hotel groups, it is crucial to maintain the palace as a cultural and historical site.
He encouraged the state government to explore other sites for the hotel development.
TSF General Secretary Hamalu Jamatia remarked, “The decision to transfer Pushpabanta Palace to a private hotel group is a direct attack on our culture and history.”
“We are not against progress, but not at the expense of annihilating our state’s culture and heritage,” Jamatia added.
DM Vishal Kumar assured that there has been no formal communication regarding leasing the palace to any private entity for hospitality purposes.
In a strong rebuke of the government's actions, Congress spokesperson Prabir Chakraborty recalled that Nobel laureate poet Rabindranath Tagore stayed in the royal residence during his visit to Tripura in 1926 and created many songs while seated on the palace's veranda.
He noted that King Bir Bikram Kishore Manikya Bahadur celebrated Tagore’s 80th birthday at the palace in 1941.
Following India’s Independence, Maharani Kanchan Prabha Devi transferred the palace to the state government in 1949. Chakraborty mentioned that after President Murmu laid the foundation for the Pushpabanta Palace Museum during her visit to Tripura in October 2022, the government allocated Rs 40 crore for the museum's development.
“The BJP government is attempting to dismantle the rich culture, traditions, and history of Tripura by converting this iconic palace into a commercial enterprise,” the Congress spokesman asserted.
The Pushpabanta Palace, also referred to as Kunjaban Palace, was constructed in 1917 by the then king Maharaja Birendra Kishore Manikya Debbarma Bahadur on 4.13 acres of land and served as the Raj Bhavan until 2018, when the Governor’s residence relocated to the Capital Complex on the outskirts of the city.
The previous Left Front government had plans to transform Pushpabanta Palace into a digital museum.
