Demand for native CS : Student bodies to wait till May 8
Source: The Sangai Express / Newmai News Network
Imphal, May 03 2018:
The Democratic Students' Alliance of Manipur (DESAM), the All Tribal Students' Union, Manipur (ATSUM) and the Apunba Ireipakki Maheiroi Sinpanglup (AIMS) have decided to wait till May 8 regarding their proposed agitation on the demand of "native Chief Secretary" following a request from the Chief Minister to give him time in order "to iron out ways and means of conceding the demand", according to the three student bodies.
Earlier, the three student bodies had decided to launch a series of agitation from May 2 .
"At the invitation of the State Government, a discourse was held on May 1, 2018 at Chief Minister's Secretariat at 1.30 pm between the State Government headed by the Chief Minister and the representatives of the All Tribal Students' Union Manipur (ATSUM), Democratic Students' Alliance of Manipur (DESAM) and Apunba Ireipakki Maheiroi Sinpanglup (AIMS) to deliberate on the appointment of a native IAS officer as the Chief Secretary of Manipur," said the student bodies.
"After a threadbare discussion of the issue, the Chief Minister requested the students' organisations to defer the scheduled agitation till May 8, 2018 to enable him to iron out ways and means of conceding the demand.
Honouring the Chief Minister's request, the agitation which was earlier scheduled had been deferred until such time a talk is held on May 8, 2018," they added.
However, the student bodies stated that in order to strengthen the movement into a movement of the masses, they have started reaching out to all the districts of Manipur to highlight the challenges and problems of the indigenous peoples under the theme "movement of conscience".
According to the student bodies, on such a journey of sensitisation, the teams of ATSUM, DESAM and AIMS met various apex organisations viz Naga Peoples' Organization (NPO), Senapati District Women Association (SDWA) and Senapati District Students' Association (SDSA) at Senapati and Zeliangrong Baudi (Asssam, Manipur, Nagaland), Zeliangrong Baudi (Manipur unit) and Zeliangrong Students' Union, Manipur (ZSUM) on May 2,2018 respectively.
"Positively responding to the call of the three students' organisations, the apex civil organisations have assured to extend all possible help to the movement," the three student bodies added.
According to the student bodies, in continuation of the sensitisation programme, an interaction programme between ATSUM, DESAM, AIMS and various Government college student organisations was held today at DESAM head office.
In the meeting, leaders of the three students' organisations urged the student leaders of various Government colleges to be prepared for any eventualities that may arise during the movement.
"Having confidence on the leadership of the three student organisations, the student leaders present in the meeting vowed to oblige anytime to the call of the ATSUM, DESAM and AIMS," they added.
"In our effort to sensitise the apex organisations and common people, leaders of ATSUM, DESAM and AIMS will be journeying to the entire districts of Manipur till the scheduled meeting between the State Government and the three student organisations is held i.e.May 8, 2018," the three student bodies stated.
During the course of "the movement of conscience", leaders, irrespective of all communities are requested to co-operate and extend fullest support for the well-being of the State, they added.