Tripura Assembly session: Opposition MLAs walks out from assembly over establishment of ‘Shantiniketan Medical College’
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.
