The Centre and Tripura government on Wednesday signed a Memorandum of Settlement with representatives from the National Liberation Front of Tripura (NLFT) and All Tripura Tiger Force (ATTF) in New Delhi, in presence of Union Home Minister Amit Shah and Tripura Chief Minister Manik Saha.

After signing the Tripura peace pact, Shah said, “It is a matter of great joy for all of us. You all have decided to end the conflict that has been continuing for the last 35 years and join the mainstream shunning arms and also expressed commitment for development of entire Tripura.”

Since the time Prime Minister Narendra Modi assumed charge, he has presented a vision of a capable and developed Northeast through peace and dialogue, Shah said. Shah added that there was a big distance between the people of Northeast and Delhi, which has been removed by PM Modi by linking the two with road, rail and airways, and apart from this PM has also bridged hearts.

“We have also approved a package of Rs 250 crore for the development of tribal areas in particular,” said the Union Home Minister.

A new milestone is set today in Tripura’s ongoing journey towards peace and progress with the signing of an agreement between the Government of India, the Government of Tripura, the National Liberation Front of Tripura, and the All-Tripura Tiger Force, Shah said in a post on his X handle.

The NLFT and the ATTF have agreed to end a 35-year-long conflict and return to the mainstream, renouncing violence and committing to building a prosperous and developed Tripura, reposing their trust in the government led by PM Modi, Shah further said.

Speaking to reporters on peace pact decision, NLFT(BM) general secretary Upendra Reang said: “We’ve been struggling for this, our people are the most oppressed in the northeast because we are sandwiched structurally and institutionally.”

He added, “We all know that the state was independent until 1949 before it merged with India. And after the merger, the geopolitical situation changed. Today, we have had an agreement with the government of India, let’s see how things unfold.”

Reiterating the restoration of statehood to Jammu and Kashmir, Lok Sabha Leader of Opposition and Congress MP Rahul Gandhi on Wednesday took a jibe at Lieutenant-Governor Manoj Sinha by calling him king, who is snatching money from the people of Union Territory and giving it to outsiders.

Addressing a rally in Sangaldan, the former Congress chief said, “It is such a beautiful place, I don’t feel like going for next meeting. You would have seen that BJP and RSS people are spreading hatred, violence and fear, it is a fight of ideology, on the other hand, there is love and respect.

Gandhi recalled his Yatra and said he walked from Kanyakumari to Kashmir, 4,000 km, giving a slogan of ‘mohabbat ki dukaan’, adding that BJP break and Congress join. Hatred cannot be negated by hatred, it can only be defeated by love, the Congress leader said.

PM Modi used to give big speeches, now recently he had put constitution on his head while entering the Parliament, Gandhi said. “It has happened for the first time that a state has become UT, people’s rights were snatched. It is our priority to give statehood again”, he added.

“In 1947, we removed kings and formed democratic government, we gave the Constitution, today a king is sitting in J&K, his name is L-G but he is a king. Your money is being taken away, given to outsiders”, he said.

“Our first step would be to restore statehood,” Gandhi promised while addressing a rally in Sangaldan today.

Launching a scathing attack on Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Gandhi said that PM Modi has spread unemployment in the entire country. “I don’t know whether you have heard the name of Adani? He is a friend of Modi ji. I cannot take name of Ambani and Adani in Parliament, I started calling them A1 and A2, ‘ham do hamare do’, a govt of Narendra Modi, Amit Shah, Ambani and Adani is presently in place”, he slammed Centre.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday arrived in Singapore to deepen strategic partnership with the Southeast Asian country at the invitation of his Singaporean counterpart Lawrence Wong after wrapping his visit to Brunei.

During the two-day visit, the Prime Minister will connect with three generations of Singapore’s leadership, officials in New Delhi said.

In his fifth official trip to Singapore, the Prime Minister will receive an official welcome at the Parliament House on September 5 and call on President Tharman Shanmugaratnam.

In a post on X, PM Modi said: “Landed in Singapore. Looking forward to the various meetings aimed at boosting the India-Singapore friendship. India’s reforms and the talent of our Yuva Shakti makes our nation an ideal investment destination. We also look forward to closer cultural ties.”

This visit comes days after Singapore PM Wong took over and PM Modi began his third term as Prime Minister.

Ahead of his departure, PM Modi on his social media handle X, had said, “I look forward to my discussions to deepen our Strategic Partnership with Singapore, particularly in new and emerging areas of advanced manufacturing, digitalization, and sustainable development.”

PM Modi, who last visited Singapore in 2018, is accompanied by Minister of External Affairs S Jaishankar, National Security Advisor Ajit Doval and other government officials.

“The leaders will review the progress of India-Singapore Strategic Partnership and exchange views on regional and global issues of mutual interest,” a Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) statement said ahead of his departure for Brunei and Singapore.

PM Modi would call on Senior Minister Lee Hsien Loong and Emeritus Senior Minister Goh Chok Tong. Singapore PM Wong and Lee will host PM Modi to separate meals.

PM Modi will also meet with Singaporean business leaders and interact with those in the country’s semiconductor ecosystem.

This visit will build synergies in semiconductor ecosystems of Singapore and India. Both PMs will visit a semiconductor manufacturing facility, officials said.

They said MoUs will be signed for cooperation in manpower skilling in the semiconductor sector.

From skilling centres to training and recruitment by Singapore firms, this will help India’s youth with better skills and opportunities, officials added.