Week-long budget session of Tripura begins amid COVID-19 scare

Amid COVID-19 scare across the country, a week-long budget session of Tripura assembly began today with precautions inside the house while entry in the visitors gallery and VIP visitors box have been restricted.

Speaker Rebati Mohan Das urged all the legislators, staff, security personnel and media people to maintain personal hygiene, wash hands in frequent interval and use masks to prevent contracting coronavirus infection and demonstrate to the people the COVID-19 prevention practices.

“When common people will see all the MLAs, top officials and opinion-makers attend the proceedings while taking all the precautions, they will be influenced and it will help us prevent spread of COVID-19 in the state. I appeal each and every one to follow the universal instructions in letter and spirit, as coronavirus has taken a serious turn in the country,” Das stated.

He further mentioned that Tripura domicile students and professionals working outside the state have returned home as a measure of safety but they need to self-quarantine themselves at least for five days. If anybody has any symptom, they should contact the doctor and go for isolation.

Deputy chief minister Jishnu Dev Varma, who also holds the finance portfolio, is scheduled to present the budget proposal for 2020-21 in the house, besides regular businesses like question hours, discussion on important public interest issues and some legislative businesses.

Meanwhile, police sources said in view of the existing coronavirus threat, Sec 144 of CrPC has been imposed across the state, prohibiting the gathering of five or more people, to prevent the spread of deadly virus. Security has been tightened outside the assembly and it’s periphery.

Anticipating the trouble due to pre-scheduled mass demonstration of 10,323 teachers, who will be jobless on March 31, to draw the attention of the legislatures, police made extra arrangement to stop any gathering within the premise and maintain peace.