'They Were Atheists, We Are Believers': CM Dr. Saha Brands Left Front at Bishalgarh Temple Inauguration
Jun 17, 2026
Chief Minister Prof. (Dr.) Manik Saha on Wednesday branded the previous Left Front government as "atheist" and declared that the BJP's rise to power in 2018 had restored a "theistic environment" across the state, speaking at the inauguration of the newly constructed Sri Sri Dakshineshwari Kali Temple in Bishalgarh.
"They did not believe in temples. You all know they were atheists. And we are believers," Dr. Saha said, in a pointed reference to the decades of Left Front rule in Tripura.
"After our government came to power in 2018, I feel a theistic environment has now been created, not just in Bishalgarh but across the whole of Tripura," he added.
The inauguration, attended by local residents and elected representatives, also saw the installation of a statue of Bharatiya Jana Sangh ideologue Pandit Deendayal Upadhyaya near the Bishalgarh bypass. Dr. Saha credited the local MLA Sushanta Deb for fulfilling the long-standing faith and aspirations of the people of Bishalgarh.
"Today, I feel this is not just a religious place. There is also a matter of heritage here," Dr. Saha said. He expressed willingness to consult the concerned minister and officials on whether the temple could be included in the state's tourism framework, though he noted that all such steps must follow established guidelines.
Invoking Prime Minister Narendra Modi's philosophy of "Vikas bhi, Virasat bhi," Dr. Saha said, "Development as well as heritage, both must go hand in hand." He cited the Ram Mandir consecration in Ayodhya on January 22, 2024, and the hoisting of the religious flag atop the temple's spire on November 25, 2025, as examples of the Prime Minister's commitment to heritage alongside national development.
He also referred to the renovation of the Tripura Sundari Temple in Udaipur, backed by approximately Rs 31 crore under the central PRASHAD scheme and Rs 17 crore from the state government, and later inaugurated by the Prime Minister.
On the newly installed statue, Dr. Saha said, "Whenever the next generation passes through Bishalgarh and sees this statue, they will ask whose it is. That is how his philosophy will reach them." He described Upadhyaya as an outstanding educator, political figure, orator, writer and social philosopher whose concept of Integral Humanism is now being studied globally.
