Md Abdul Nasir-ZEO spat Court calls trio; Amesta raps Minister
Source: The Sangai Express

Imphal, May 26 2014: Amid notices served to AMESTA and ATSUM functionaries based on a complaint filed by Agriculture Minister Md Abdul Nasir, All Manipur elementary School Teachers' Association (AMESTA) demanded that Government of Manipur order investigation into alleged misconduct of the Minister against the Zonal Education Officer (ZEO), Thoubal.

A copy of the notification issued by the Court of Chief Judicial Magistrate, Imphal West and received here today directed Amesta advisor T Rameshwor Singh, All Tribal students' Union Manipur (Atsum) president Muan Tombing and its secretary Vareiyo Satshang to appear before the court on June 6 .

While the court notice, seemingly served in connection with comments by the three individuals against the Minister and published in State dailies, cited lack of evidence for exempting editors of various newspapers, the court referred to complainant Md Abdul Nasir filing a criminal case (u/s 200 CrPC) as the basis for issuance of the notices to the trio.

On the otherhand, amesta general secretary Ch Shanta Kumar Singh, speaking to newspersons at Manipur Press Club today expressed strong resentment on alleged leniency by the Government against Md Abdul Nasir inspite of being aware that the Agriculture Minister assaulted ZEO, Thoubal David Tualzathang besides hurling abuses and using unparliamentary languages against the ZEO.

It is said that Minister Nasir summoned the ZEO last month in connection with release of fund to School Management Development Committee (SMDC) in respect of Laiphrakpam Laishram Mamang Leikai Primary School, Lilong.

Accusing the ZEO of defying the Minister's order that the SMDC fund be deposited to the account of one Md Arzad Ali (Minister's relative), Md Abdul Nasir using derogatory terms lunged at the ZEO with the situation prevented from taking an ugly shape due to timely intervention of the ZEO's personal assistant Md Habib Ali.

Reacting on the said incident, Shanta Kumar said ZEO David was elevated to the respectable post after serving as a teacher for over three decades and based on list of seniority.

Expressing that the Minister's high-handedness amount to disgracing the entire teacher community and testify lack of respect to those serving for the betterment of Manipur's future, the secretary demanded that thorough investigation be ordered within May 30 failing which Amesta would be constrained to resort to various form of intense agitation.

Some teachers joining the media briefing also expressed serious resentment that inspite of subjecting the ZEO to abuse and ill-treatment neither has the Minister tendered public apology nor is the Government taking any positive step to settle the matter.

Minister Abdul Nasir abusing the ZEO with communal tone and mocking that David Tualzathang do not deserve to hold office of the ZEO in the valley area but should be confined to his home district (Churachandpur) clearly suggest that the Minister has no respect for the tribal people, they opined.

Significantly, the ZEO in his report submitted to the Additional director of Education (SV) regarding the incident involving him and Md Abdul Nasir accused the later of gross misconduct and insistence that the Minister's instruction on the SMDC fund release should be complied with at any cost regardless of whether it is against prescribed norms.

The ZEO report also include details on constitution of the SMDC of Laiphrakpam Laishram Mamang Leikai Primary School, Lilong.

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