Agartala: The Tripura Legislative Assembly witnessed intense disruption during the latter half of the sixth day of the ongoing budget session, as opposition legislators from Congress and CPI(M) staged a walkout.
The protest was aimed at the state government’s perceived haste in pushing through three Bills concerning the establishment of private universities.
Opposition members raised serious concerns over the credibility of the organisations proposing to set up these institutions. They alleged that the entities lacked adequate experience in managing higher education institutions and questioned their qualifications.
Despite repeated assurances from Chief Minister Manik Saha and Higher Education Minister Kishor Barman, opposition MLAs insisted that the Bills be referred to a select committee. They argued that such scrutiny would allow a proper evaluation of the competence and background of the interested organisations.
The issue was initially raised by a senior Congress MLA, whose remarks were later supported by the entire opposition bloc. During his speech, the MLA disclosed certain details that appeared to be confidential—information typically accessible only to a limited group, such as cabinet members.
Leader of the Opposition Jitendra Chaudhury criticised the government for rushing the process. He pointed out that one of the organisations is based in Hapur, Uttar Pradesh, and reportedly operates primarily as an educational consultancy.
Another entity has a university in Sikkim but lacks substantial publicly available information. The third organisation, he claimed, had previously faced blacklisting by the University Grants Commission (UGC). While clarifying that the opposition was not fundamentally against private universities, he emphasised the need for transparency and due diligence.
During the heated exchange, Minister Kishor Barman attempted to reassure the House, stating that no institution would be allowed to function if it failed to comply with UGC norms. However, his assurances failed to pacify the opposition.
Chief Minister Manik Saha also intervened, appealing to the opposition to consider the government’s perspective.
In a lighter moment, he remarked on the Congress MLA’s apparent access to detailed internal information, humorously praising his “strong information network.” With a smile, he added that he would look into how such confidential details were obtained.
Following the session, Minister Barman addressed the media, defending the government’s stance. He highlighted that students from Tripura spend approximately Rs 2 lakh to Rs 5 lakh each on higher education outside the state.
According to his estimates, this results in an annual outflow of around Rs 200 to Rs 400 crore. Establishing private universities locally, he argued, would help retain this expenditure within the state and generate employment opportunities.
He further clarified that the government is not promoting privatisation at the cost of public education. Instead, it aims to develop a balanced ecosystem where both public and private institutions contribute to making Tripura an educational hub.
He assured that all approved institutions would remain under strict government oversight to ensure adherence to UGC guidelines.
Among the proposals under consideration is one by the New Delhi-based Indira Gandhi Computer Saksharta Mission to establish the Atal Bihari Vajpayee Skill University in Tripura.
Additionally, the Gujarat-based Research and Gyan for Noble Upliftment Trust has proposed setting up an International University offering a diverse range of courses, including science, technology, management, humanities, law, healthcare, and skill development.
Another proposal comes from the Bharat Educational and Cultural Development Trust, based in Hapur, Uttar Pradesh, which aims to establish the Science, Technology and Allied Skill University in the state.
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