TRIPURAHERALD

The final day session of the Tripura Assembly witnessed ruckus after the opposition legislators staged walk out to protest the government’s decision of establishment of private run ‘Shantiniketan Medical College’ in Tripura.

The ruckus erupted after a discussion on a Calling Attention Notice submitted by Congress MLA Sudip Roy Barman, titled “Regarding permission by the Government of Tripura to use Referral Hospital (IGM) as a Teaching Hospital by Tripura Santiniketan Medical College.” 

Responding to the notice, Chief Minister Dr Manik Saha, who also holds the Health portfolio, defended the government’s decision and referred to the Medical College Establishment Rules of 1999 and the National Medical Commission Guidelines of 2023, stating that these rules and guidelines permit the government to allow private medical colleges to use government hospitals for educational purposes through a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU).

He further said that if the group setting up the institute is found to be ‘tainted’, the government would act accordingly.

On Friday, the opposition MLAs claimed in the Assembly that a key person connected to the proposed medical college is now under CBI scanner and is close to jailed Trinamool Congress leader Anubrata Mondal.

The opposition parties have demanded the formation of a Joint Legislative Committee (JLC) to look into all the aspects related to the proposed medical college.

The state transport and tourism minister Sushanta Chowdhury on Thursday informed the Assembly that he would write to the Union Ministry of Civil Aviation to request regulation of airfare for Kolkata-Agartala route.

In response to the concern raised by the Congress MLA Sudip Roy Barman, the minister in the second day session of the ongoing assembly informed that the Civil Aviation Ministry does not have direct control over airline pricing.

Congress MLA Sudip Roy Barman expressed his concern over the skyrocketing price of the airfare of Kolkata-Agartala route and observed that it is causing significant difficulties for travellers. Roy Barman pointed out that fares currently range from Rs 10,000 to Rs 12,000 and are expected to increase further with the approaching festival season.

He however urged the government to take action with central authorities to address this issue.

Meanwhile, minister Sushanta Chowdhury on Thursday said that efforts are underway to have the Agartala MBB Airport designated as an international airport. On the status of the Kailashahar airport in Unakoti district, he mentioned that a Civil Aviation Ministry team had visited the site and that the Airports Authority of India (AAI) is preparing a Detailed Project Report for the currently inactive airport.

The state industry minister Santana Chakma on Thursday said teachers imparted knowledge and wisdom thereby showing the path for future citizens and played a key role in building and strengthening the ethical and moral foundations of students.

Addressing in a programme organized by education department to celebrate the 63rd Teachers’ Day at Agartala Town Hall the state industry minister Santana Chakma said teachers play an important role in building the character of the students and making them worthy citizens. She said that teachers not only make an important contribution to nation-building by educating the students, but they also play a big role in giving a new direction to society.

She also extended her heartfelt greetings and best wishes to all the teachers of the state on the eve of Teachers’ Day. The Prime Minister strongly expressed the desire to make India a global leader. For this reason, special importance has been given to the expansion of quality education. The teaching of the teachers and their motivational speeches make a deep impression on the minds of the students. Which paves the way for future students? Teachers also have an important role in the mental development of students, she added.

Since 1962, India has commemorated the birthday of its second President, Dr. Sarvepalli Radhakrishnan, on September 5th as Teachers’ Day. This year, the practice continues with the 63rd annual celebration of Teachers’ Day.

Teachers’ Day is an annual celebration in India, as well as in other parts of the world; that honours teachers, recognizing their crucial role in shaping the future of nations by educating students. It underscores the importance of teachers in our society.

The tradition of celebrating Teachers’ Day in India, which began in 1962, is a tribute to the birth anniversary of Dr. Sarvepalli Radhakrishnan, an esteemed scholar and the first Vice-President and second President of independent India.

Adding another feather to her cap, Tripura’s young chess prodigy Arshiya Das bagged another gold medal in the Commonwealth Chess Championship at Sri Lanka. Few days back Arshiya Das has won gold medal in Under-14 Rapid event of Commonwealth Chess Championship at Sri Lanka. She was unbeaten with 6.5 points in 7 rounds. She has also won the gold medal in Under-14 Blitz category of Commonwealth Chess Championship at Sri Lanka.

Arshiya is a student of Matrix Chess Academy run by chess coach and national level player Prasenjit Datta. Prasenjit Datta has conveyed his best wishes to his student Arshiya and expressed the hope that she will perform well in the coming days.

Arshiya is the only daughter of Purnendu Das and his wife Arnisha Das.

The Union Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) on Wednesday signed a peace accord with National Liberation Front of Tripura (NLFT) and All Tripura Tiger Force (ATTF) – the 2 insurgent groups of Tripura in Delhi.

The peace accord was signed in presence of Union Home Minister Amit Shah and Tripura Chief Minister Dr Manik Saha. Chief Secretary of Tripura J K Sinha, Union Home Secretary, founder of TIPRA Motha party in Tripura Paradyot Kishore Deb Burman and others were present in the event at Delhi.

After the signing of the agreement with the insurgent groups, Union Home Minister Amit Shah said that Tripura takes another step towards peace and prosperity with the signing of the agreement between the Government of India, Government of Tripura, National Liberation Front of Tripura, and All Tripura Tiger Force.

Amit Shah said that the agreement is the 12th for the northeast and 3rd related to Tripura. So far around 10,000 insurgents have surrendered, given up weapons and joined the mainstream.

“Today, with the surrender of and agreement with NLFT and ATTF, more than around 328 armed cadres will join the mainstream,” he said.

A Public awareness campaign for smooth traffic management was organized by Traffic Unit, Agartala at GB Bazar area on Wednesday.

Addressing in the awareness programme a police officer said that strict enforcement against vehicles causing obstruction or inconvenience will be taken. Several areas in the city have been identified where the people park their vehicles in no parking zones which causes traffic congestion. To solve this problem we will organize public awareness campaign for smooth traffic management. If then also the problem does not ends, strict enforcement against vehicles causing obstruction or inconvenience will be taken, the officer added.

A memorandum of Settlement will be signed among central and Tripura governments, representatives of National Liberation Front of Tripura (NLFT) and All Tripura Tiger Force (ATTF) in New Delhi on Wednesday in presence of Union Home Minister Amit Shah. Chief Minister of Tripura Dr.  Manik Saha and senior officials of Home Ministry and Tripura government will also be present during the signing of the Memorandum of Settlement.

Home Ministry has been working tirelessly to fulfill Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s vision of a developed Northeast which is free from extremism, violence and conflict. Centre has signed 12 important agreements to bring peace and prosperity in the Northeast. Three of these agreements relate to Tripura.

Amid a conflict of opinion between the opposition CPI(M) and the Congress party in Tripura, the Pradesh president of the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party Rajib Bhattacharjee has won the lone Rajya Sabha seat of the state in the by-polls held here in the Tripura State Legislative Assembly on Tuesday.

The seat fell vacant following the resignation of Biplab Kumar Deb, who contested from the West Tripura Lok Sabha seat and secured a victory in the 2024 general elections.

Sweeping the poll, the BJP chief Rajib Bhattacharjee said that he will work for the development of the state. He expressed his gratitude to all the members of the legislative assembly of BJP and its alliance partners of IPFT and TIPRA Motha for extending their support to him.

Chief Minister Dr Manik Saha, accompanied by minister Ratan Lal Nath and others including the Chief Whip of the assembly Kalyani Roy were present.

Meanwhile, the opposition Congress party, which restrained itself from the election on Tuesday, talked tough against the CPI(M) over fielding their candidate for the election.

Congress MLA Sudip Roy Barman interacted with the reporters regarding the issue and said, “They didn’t talk to us and announced their candidate. That is their decision. But if they expect us to follow their decision and vote, it is not going to happen.” 

“Congress abstained from the Rajya Sabha vote in protest against the poll violence in the past elections, particularly last month’s panchayat polls,” Barman said, adding that the situation was same for the CPI(M) where many of their party workers and supporters and even their candidates for the panchayat polls were attacked and killed, and in that case they were supposed to boycott the election, but instead of that their fielded their candidate.

Chief Minister Dr. Manik Saha on Tuesday launched the membership drive ‘Sadasyata Abhiyan 2024’ and said that the party’s goal is to increase the number of party members to 12 lakh from the existing 6.5 lakh. Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) State President Rajib Bhattacharjee and other party members were present.

Chief Minister Dr. Manik Saha renewed his own membership while using a mobile app. When we started we only had 1.24 lakh registered members in the party, in 2019 when i was in charge of the membership drive, we managed to enroll 6.5 lakh members. This year, we aim to reach around 12 lakh members, nearly double the current membership count, said Dr. Manik Saha.

Chief Minister Dr. Manik Saha said in a post on the X: “Join BJP’s family! With the beginning of the Membership drive today in Tripura. I joined the initial membership at the BJP Tripura State Office. I appeal to everyone to become a member now!”

Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) State President Rajib Bhattacharjee said that the party workers will visit all the every area under the 3,330 polling booths to get new members. We would not only make new members, but also inculcate the party ideology among the new members and the people. The membership drive would be undertaken in two phases. The first phase would end on September 25 and the second phase would start in October. Both online and offline mode will be available to enroll new members of the BJP, he added.