Tripura assembly session to begin on Friday

Agartala, Aug 26 (IANS) The monsoon session of the Tripura assembly will begin Friday and the opposition Congress is expected to raise a host of issues, including the malaria epidemic.

"The sixth session of the current assembly would begin Aug 29 and is likely to continue till Sept 3 or 4. Many important bills including a bill for setting up a new university in Tripura are likely to be presented in the assembly," an official of the Tripura assembly told IANS.

The main opposition Congress has decided to raise several issues to force the Left Front government to take steps for the well being of the people.

"The Left Front government has totally failed to check the outbreak of malaria in the state. During the past two months more than 150 people including many children have died of malaria," state Congress working president Ashish Saha told IANS.

"Many people died due to malaria in their houses as the tribals are usually averse to taking the patients to hospitals," said Saha, also a legislator.

He said that the state government has failed miserably not only in checking the malaria epidemic and other diseases but has also been grossly unsuccessful in improving the quality of education and protection of human rights.

According to Tripura health department officials, 82 people including 66 children have died of malaria in the northeastern state since June 13.