From Our Correspondent
AGARTALA: Amidst uproarious scenes, the 11-day Budget session of Tripura Assembly began here on Friday.
Opposition members were up in the arm demanding CBI/NIA probe into alleged nexus between newly inducted Minister Sahid Chowdhury and HUJI activist Mamun Miah as soon as Governor DY Patil started reading out his customary speech. Despite slogans and showing of placards, the Governor finished his speech with relatively less chaos in the House.
In his speech, the Governor mainly focused on the government’s achievement in various field besides sharply criticizing the Centre’s much hyped liberalization policy.
Hitting hard on the Centre for scams, the Governor said despite public movement for enactment of a strong Lokpal Bill, the Union government had brought a weak Lokpal Bill before the Parliament and even that could not be passed in the Rajya Sabha. “ The government here has not only passed the Lokayukta Bill but has also appointed Lokayukta who has already started functioning”, he said.
Patil, his speech also made a point on the deprivation mooted out by the 13th Finance Commission. “The inadequate award of the 13th FC has put the state in an extremely difficult position. The FC has allocated non-plan gap grant of Rs. 4453 crore for the five-year period as against the requirement of Rs 14,712 crore,” he said urging the Union government to lend a helping hand to tide over the unprecedented financial crisis.
Patil sees a silver lining in the visit of Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina to Agartala.
“The visit of Hasina will certainly bring positive results not only for Tripura but also for the entire NE region,” he said.
Though it was a goodwill visit, it will go a long way in further strengthening the close bilateral ties with Bangladesh and Tripura, he said adding that there must be efforts to keep good relation with the neighbouring nation.