Manipur University students protest against MHRD at Delhi
Date :: July 31st, 2018

Manipur University students protest against MHRD at Delhi

MANIPUR UNIVERSITY STUDENTS PROTEST AGAINST MHRD!
SEEK IMMEDIATE REMOVAL OF MANIPUR UNIVERSITY V-C!
POLICE FORCIBLY MANHANDLES AND DETAINS STUDENTS!
STUDENTS VOICE CONCERN OVER CONTINUANCE OF V-C ON HIS POST, DESPITE GRAVE CHARGES ON HIM!
SUBMIT SIGNATURES OF COMMON STUDENTS AND CIVIL SOCIETY MEMBERS DEMANDING V-C’s DISMISSAL!

North-East Forum for International Solidarity (NEFIS) and Kangleipak Students Association (KSA) activists along with the students of Manipur University, common students from Manipur and other states, as well as other organizations, held a massive protest demonstration at Union HRD Ministry (MHRD) over Manipur University (MU) crisis issue. The protesting students were demanding to meet the HRD Minister, Shri Prakash Javadekar over the issue.

However, they were forcibly stopped from demonstrating outside the ministry by the police. The students were brutally detained and taken to Parliament Street police station. At the time of writing of this press statement, they were still in detention. The action by the police corresponds with the apathetic nature of the Union Government in dealing with the crisis at Manipur University and its connivance with V-C in destroying the academic atmosphere of the university.

Manipur University students protest against MHRD at Delhi

It should be noted that the university students, students’ union, teachers and karamcharis have been agitating for more than last 2 months, demanding MU Vice-Chancellor, Adya Prasad Pandey’s removal. They are demanding his removal for the irregularities committed by his office.

Despite the fact that the university has come to a standstill and future of common students has been left in the lurch due to prolongation of the crisis. The apathy of Union HRD Ministry is evident here, since, despite an inquiry being initiated against him, he is allowed to continue in his post. A delegation of activists comprising student delegates from Manipur University along with NEFIS and KSA members were to submit a memorandum along with signatures of common students, teachers and civil society members to the ministry.

It should be noted that V-C’s office faces many charges such as corruption, nepotism, irregularities in administration, destroying academic atmosphere and misappropriation of funds. Irregularities committed by him include making arbitrary and illegal donations from university funds to student group, ABVP.

He has been guilty of not conducting meetings with Executive Council and Finance Council as stipulated by Manipur University rules and brazenly violates MU Act, 2005 by neglecting court meetings. He is also guilty of grave financial and administrative irregularities, including appointment to non-existent posts and vindictive denial of promotion to a large number of teachers by making illegal changes in the due process.

The demonstrators also protested against the continuation of the V-C on his post, despite an inquiry being conducted against him, which would provide him ample space to influence it. They demanded that he should be immediately sent on leave, till the inquiry is being conducted. It should also be known that NEFIS and KSA had conducted a mass signature campaign in Manipur and in several other areas of the country regarding this issue and have resolved to intensify the movement in the coming days if their demands are not accepted by the Union HRD ministry soon.

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Manipur University students protest against MHRD at Delhi

Chinglen Khumukcham,
Convening Committee Member,
North-East Forum for International Solidarity (NEFIS)

Sukham Bidyananda,
Vice-President,
Kangleipak Students Association (KSA)