The Opposition comprising the Communist Party of India CPM and the Congress staged a walk-out in protest against a proposed bill aiming to establish a private university in Udaipur. The bill, brought forth by Chief Minister Dr. Manik Saha, who also oversees the Education and Health portfolios, faced strong opposition as the state government declined to refer it to a select committee for further scrutiny.
This walk-out, the first of its kind in the current assembly session, highlighted the deep-seated disagreement over the establishment of the ‘Tripura Sundari Open University’ by the ‘Himalayan Universal Educational Foundation,’ a Delhi-based private entity. The proposed university would occupy 5.2 acres of purchased land in Udaipur.
Opposition leader Animesh Debbarma voiced dissatisfaction during the assembly session, emphasizing the necessity of subjecting the bill to a Select Committee for a comprehensive examination. Debbarma stressed the importance of scrutinizing the credentials of the private university authority, including its recognition from the University Grants Commission (UGC) and the involvement of qualified experts. He underlined the need to safeguard the future prospects of state students who may enroll in the proposed university.
Jiten Choudhury, the leader of the CPI (M) legislature party, echoed these sentiments, citing precedent instances where similar bills underwent scrutiny by Select Committees before receiving approval. Drawing attention to the gravity of the matter and its potential impact on students, Choudhury referred to past cases such as the ICFAI University in 2005 and the MBB University in 2015.
Sudip Roybarman, a Congress MLA, argued for the bill’s referral to a Select Committee, emphasizing the necessity for intensive discussion and scrutiny, unless influenced by external pressures from Delhi.
In response, Chief Minister Dr. Manik Saha defended the proposed university, assuring that it would be self-financed, with no financial burden on the state government. He pledged compliance with UGC guidelines and highlighted the ‘Himalayan Universal Educational Foundation’s’ deposit of Rs 1 crore as an endowment fund and an additional Rs 50 lakh as a general fund. Dr. Saha emphasized the positive impact of the new university on local development and employment opportunities.
Despite these assurances, the opposition remained unwavering in their demand for a Select Committee review. The bill was eventually put to a vote by the treasury bench, leading to a noisy walk-out by the CPI (M) and Congress. In contrast, the ‘Tipra Motha,’ the main opposition, opted to stay in the assembly, refraining from participating in the walk-out.
