Agartala, March 19, 2025: The Amra Bangali Party has voiced strong opposition to the construction of a Taj Hotel at Pushpabanta Palace citing concerns over the preservation of cultural heritage and historical significance. The party condemned the move along with the role of the state government and the Tipra Matha Party, informed ABP in a press communiqué on Wednesday.

The statement alleged that the government has allocated Rs 258 crore for tribal development and promised 200 jobs for Tiprasa at the Taj Hotel in an effort to appease the Tipra Motha. “An MoU has been signed between the state government and the Tata Group, handing over the Maharaja Birendra Kishore Manikya Museum and Cultural Center to the Taj Hotel Group for the construction of a five-star hotel,” the release stated.

The party expressed dismay over the demolition of the Manikya Rajas’ guest house, a site deeply tied to the sentiments of hill Bengalis and the legacy of poet Rabindranath Tagore. “This is not just a building; it is a hundred-year-old tradition. Memories of the Manikya kings and the passion of Rabindranath Tagore are intertwined with Pushpabanta Palace,” the statement emphasized.

The release also highlighted the historical significance of the site, noting that Rabindranath Tagore stayed at the guest house during his last visit in 1926, and renamed it Pushpabanta Palace at the request of Maharaja Birendra Kishore Manikya. “In May 1941, Maharaja Bir Bikram Kishore Manikya Bahadur celebrated Tagore’s 80th birthday here. This palace is a repository of the royal family’s memories and the pride of Tripura,” the statement added.

The Amra Bangali Party criticized the government’s decision to repurpose the palace, which had served as the Raj Bhavan until 2018 and was inaugurated as a digital museum by President Draupadi Murmu in 2022. “Destroying such an ancient tradition to build a hotel is unacceptable. The government should consider alternative locations for the Taj Hotel,” the party demanded.