Tripura government today moved to bury the row over renaming of Ujjayanta Palace, erstwhile royal abode of the Manikya kings, to Tripura State Museum, saying no such proposal was being planned.
"The debate seems to be derived from a wrong conception or wrong interpretation of a unique initiative of the state government to preserve the heritage building and simultaneously recognising it before the world," Tripura Forest Minister and prominent tribal leader Jitendra Chowdhury said.
Indigenous Nationalist Party of Twipra, a tribal based party, had written to Vice President Hamid Ansari (who will inaugurate the new museum) protesting the proposed renaming. The current head of Tripura royal family had said he would launch a signature campaign against the proposed move.
The decision of housing the Tripura State Museum in the palace was taken in 1993, as it was made part of an accord signed between the Government of Tripura and one separatist outfit, which returned to the mainstream, Chowdhury told PTI.
"Since then, 20 years have elapsed, but from no quarter or any individual any question was raised. The Tripura Legislative Assembly was housed in the palace till 2011. The structure was simultaneously known as Assembly building and Ujjayanta palace. The stature of Ujjayanta has always dominated and shall be dominating in future too," Chowdhury said.
"The debate is very unnecessary, unfortunate and misconceived," he said.
The minister said the massive structure was retrofitted with utmost care and would be opened for public from September 25.
"So, a commendable job has been accomplished by the government and the eminent artists and workers of our country to preserve and glorify it to the rest of the world. The name Ujjayanta shall further glow." he said.
Vice President Hamid Ansari is scheduled to inaugurate the new Tripura State Museum housed in the palace on September 25.
Ujjayanta Palace served as the Tripura state legislative assembly till 2011. It was built by Maharaja Radha Kishore Manikya during 1899-1901.
