Udaipur (Tripura), Feb 19 : Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh today criticised the Communist Party of India-Marxist (CPI-M)-led Left Front government in Tripura for slow development.

Campaigning for the February 23 State Assembly election in Udaipur in South Tripura District, Dr Singh claimed that the Congress Party was serious about peace and development of North-eastern states.

Criticising the CPI-M led Government, Manmohan Singh said that the Centre is giving adequate funds to the State, but development in Tripura did not take place as expected.

Dr Singh said that he had inaugurated a 750 MW gas-based thermal project at Palatana so that people in Tripura and its neighbours could get power.

He said that there is no electricity in 350 villages and the State Government was working at very slow pace to utilise the huge reserve of natural gas.

Listing out funds given to the State under various schemes, including the Bharat Nirman project, the National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme and the Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan, Dr Singh alleged that the development did not take place as expected.

He alleged that the State government took no steps to attract investors for development of Tripura, a tiny State, which had over five lakh unemployed youths.

He appealed people to vote the Left Front out of power and bring Congress to power for all round development of the State. (ANI)