Oppn MLAs demand discussion on setting up Joint Legislative Committee over Tripura Santiniketan Medical College
The private medical college, Tripura Santiniketan Medical College, is being set up by West Bengal-based Swadhin Trust.
3 min read
The private medical college, Tripura Santiniketan Medical College, is being set up by West Bengal-based Swadhin Trust. (File photo)
Opposition MLAs Friday staged a walkout from the Tripura Assembly after the Speaker declined to allow a discussion on the demand of forming a Joint Legislative Committee to probe the matter of setting up a private medical college using the infrastructure of the state-run Indira Gandhi Memorial (IGM) Hospital in the state capital.
The private medical college, Tripura Santiniketan Medical College, is being set up by West Bengal-based Swadhin Trust. The Trust is headed by incarcerated Trinamool Congress leader Anubrata Mondal, who is being investigated by the Enforcement Directorate (ED) and the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) over his alleged involvement in cattle smuggling.
Earlier in the day, Congress MLA Sudip Roy Barman moved a proposal seeking a statement on the government’s decision to allow the Tripura Santiniketan Medical College to use the infrastructure of the IGM Hospital.
Replying to the motion, Chief Minister Manik Saha, who is also in charge of the health department, said the government was empowered to permit teaching hospitals to operate from government hospitals under Article 2 (5) of the Establishment of Medical College Regulations, 1999.
Saha further stated that Tripura needed to improve its doctor-to-general population ratio.
The National Medical Commission (NMC) has increased MBBS seats at Agartala Government Medical College and Govind Ballabh Pant (GBP) Teaching Hospital from 100 to 150, the CM said, adding that new private medical colleges would go a long way in contributing to the state’s economy and improving the health services.
Opposition members quizzed the government on its plan to deal with any emergent situation if the private company setting up the Tripura Santiniketan Medical College happened to desert the project midway. Opposition leader Jitendra Chaudhary and Congress MLA Roy Barman said this was important given that Swadhin Trust head Anubrata Mondal has been accused of smuggling.
CM Saha reasoned that the National Medical Commission provided the ‘Letter of Permission’ to the college authorities, while Tripura University (a Central university) also provided the ‘Consent of Affiliation’ allowing the Tripura Santiniketan Medical College to admit 150 students from the current academic year.
The CM said his government cannot afford to seek ED, and CBI clearances from all investors. However, he assured that if the company concerned is ever found to be involved in any wrongdoing, his government would take necessary action.
Thereafter, all Opposition MLAs raised the demand to have a discussion on forming a Joint Legislative Committee to investigate all aspects of the medical college.
Though the CM initially said he was not opposed to the idea, Speaker Biswabandhu Sen did not agree to prolong the discussion citing other pending motions. Following this, 13 Opposition legislators including 10 CPI(M) MLAs and three Congress MLAs came down to the well of the House to protest and eventually staged a walkout.
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