Chief Minister Prof. Dr Manik Saha on Wednesday said that the present state government is working to preserve old culture and tradition like Putul Khela, Jatra and Natak.

Dr Saha said this after inaugurating the State Level Jatra Utsav at Vivekananda Shardha-Satabarshiki Bhavan, Dharmanagar under North Tripura District on Wednesday. During his North Tripura district tour, he inaugurated and laid foundation stones of 45 development projects for the entire district.

“When discussions were going on regarding this matter, we talked many times about the old traditions which are slowly getting lost. We have conducted a Kirtan Sanmelan. So, we decided to do the Jatra Utsav and then I remembered Speaker Biswabandhu Sen had decided to organise it in Dharmanagar. We have taken the right decision by organising it here,” he said.

He said, in line with Prime Minister Narendra Modi's visit, the present state government is working for an overall development.

“We have been working for development. PM Modi means development. Our state government is working for overall development. The 35-year rule has polluted the environment and the state, and now they are fighting with NOTA. Dharmanagar holds a special place among us. Jatra means a good journey. I want to thank the ICA Department for preserving the old tradition, culture and heritage. A few days ago, we organised Basanta Utsav. Due to technology, people have started forgetting old cultures like Putul Khela, Jatra, Natak — but this should not happen and we have decided to preserve them. The previous government didn’t focus on this,” he added.

Dr Saha also shared memories of his college days when he participated in a drama which bagged an award.