Agartala, March 20 The Tripura assembly on Friday passed three bills to allow the establishment of three new private universities, amid protests from the opposition.
The International University Tripura Bill 2026, Atal Bihari Vajpayee Skill University Bill 2026, and Science Technology Allied Skill University 2026 were passed by voice vote.
Participating in the discussion, Leader of Opposition Jitendra Chaudhury and senior Congress MLA Sudip Roy Barman urged Higher Education Minister Kishor Barman to send the bills to the select committee for thorough examination, pointing out several loopholes.
In response, Chief Minister Manik Saha said the government had introduced the bills after intense discussion in the state cabinet.
"Whatever we are doing is for the interest of the state after taking into consideration all aspects. We are trying to bring well-recognised institutions to the state. I am also trying to bring Apollo Hospitals. Those who are willing to come are welcome," he said.
When the three bills were presented for voting, the CPI(M) and Congress MLAs walked out of the House in protest.
The three bills were subsequently passed by voice vote, but MLAs of BJP allies Tipra Motha Praty (TMP) and Indigenous People's Front of Tripura (IPFT) remained silent.
Later, speaking to the press, Chaudhary said, "We had strong reservations about the three bills because the matter is related to the future of students. The opposition parties had suggested sending the bills to the Select Commission for more discussion, but the treasury bench did not pay heed to our point, prompting us to walk out of the House."
Roy Barman said the BJP-led government was risking the future of students.
"It has come to my notice that these universities have neither UGC recognition nor NIRF or National Assessment Accreditation Council (NAAC) affiliation," he claimed.
Roy claimed that it seemed the government was desperate to open the doors for private universities to "extort money" from students.