Source: The Sangai Express
Imphal, September 19:
Intensifying the demand for the complete revocation of the Armed Forces Special Powers Act from the State, three powerful student bodies, AMSU, DESAM and MSF have announced a ban on all Hindi text books and NCC units opened at schools and colleges from September 21.Explaining the factors behind the reason to ban Hindi text books and NCC units opened under the aegis of the Indian Government, the student bodies in a statement today said that there is no point in learning the National language when Delhi is not ready to treat the people of Manipur and the North East as equal citizens of the land.
Making their point clear, the student bodies said though the Centre has decided to repeal POTA, which is barely two years old, it is against the revocation of the Armed Forces Special Powers Act, which gives a licence to the security personnel to annihilate the people of the North East region.
The student community will not shirk away from the challenge ahead, said the statement and pledged that they will continue the fight until and unless the AFSPA is completely lifted from the region.
In any agitation, it is natural that people including students will suffer and the agitation will not be called off on this count, said the statement and added emphatically that the movement will not be called off even at the cost of the academic years of the students.
History is witness to the fact that students have to leave their studies and class rooms to highlight the grievances of the people, said the student bodies.
Drawing comparisons with other situations such as during the conflict between Vietnam and the USA, where the academic pursuits of the students were not disrupted, cannot be equated with the situation in Manipur, said the statement and pointed out that the Vietnamese Govt fought for their people and ensured the safety of the students while it is the opposite here.
The people here are not fighting against some alien force but against the very force operating in Manipur under the guise of democracy, reasoned the student bodies.
If the Chief Minister is really sincere about the welfare of the students, then he should listen to the grievances of the student community, said the statement.