Bill for setting up open University passed in Assembly amid walk out of CPM, Cong MLAs

Agartala, Jan 10, 2024, By Our Correspondent

Opposition CPI(M) and Congress MLAs on Wednesday walked out of Assembly after their demand for sending a Bill seeking formation of a private university in Tripura to a select committee for scrutiny turned down by Chief Minister Manik Saha.However, the Bill for setting up Mata Tripura Sundari Open University , Tripura was passed in the house.When the Bill was tabled for the House’s nod , opposition leader Animesh Debbarma, CPI(M) legislator party leader, Jitendra Choudhury and Congress MLA Sudip Roy Barman expressed their strong reservation for pushing it without proper scrutiny.Debbarma said they are not against setting up a private open university in the northeastern state but the proposal must be thoroughly checked by the select committee because nobody knows the whereabouts and credentials of the organization which is going to establish a university.On his part, (Jitendra) Choudhry also backed the opposition leader’s concern about a private party coming up for setting up a private open university in the state which has already three private universities.Congress legislator also flagged his concern and urged the Chief Minister to send the Bill to the select committee for scrutiny. “We are not saying the Bill should be withdrawn. I appeal the Chief Minister to refer it to the select committee or experts for proper scrutiny. We can’t allow anyone to play with the future of the students”, he said.While replying to the opposition’s concern, the Chief Minister said the Himalayan Universal Educational Trust, a Delhi based organization has experience in running such institutions in the states like Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, Sikkim and Arunachal Pradesh.“The organization has already brought a plot measuring 5.40 acres as per the UGC guideline at Udaipur in Gumati district. It will not take any money for setting up an open university. The students who could not complete college level because of various reasons will benefit from such an open university”, he said.As the Chief Minister struck down the opposition’s demand and sought voting on the proposal, CPI(M) and Congress MLAs walked out of the House but it could not stall the passage of the Bill