Students reject
Source: The Sangai Express
Imphal, January 18 2023:
Rejecting the claim that students taking out protests for some misdeeds or shortcomings were instigated and that the State Government has no role on matters related to Dhanamanjuri University (DMU), at least six student organisations have invited the Education Minister for a public debate on the topic.
The six student organisations are Apunba Ireipakki Mahetroi Singpang Lup (AIMS), Democratic Students' Alliance of Manipur (DESAM).
Kangleipak Students' Association (KSA), Manipuri Students' Federation (MSF), Students Union of Kangleipak (SUK) and another student body.
In a joint statement, they said that the protest staged by a number of students on January 6 last for not making DMU a full fledged varsity was against the 'irresponsible nature' of the Education Minister and Commissioner.
Claiming that the Education Minister seems to be lacking awareness on the problem at DMU which is not new, the student bodies said that they didn't expect such a statement from the Education Minister.
The student bodies also said that governance is a continuous process and denying responsibility on the ground of being new to the post is unbecoming of legislators.
Saying that no students want to come out in the street and stage a protest, the joint statement claimed that the Education Minister must understand why students still protest in the first place if he knows the situation of Manipur.
The Education Minister might work at the behest of instigators but the students don't as charged by him (the Education Minister), they claimed and asked the Education Minister to study what compelled the students to come out and protest before making any statement.
"Dubbing the many movements launched by students in the history of Manipur as if it were carried out at the behest of instigators is unbecoming of the person who holds the Education portfolio", the six-student organisations charged.
Asking if the students are not allowed to demand sufficient teachers or infrastructure, they further asked whether the Education Minister has studied why the students are demanding upgrading of DMU to full-fledged varsity or is it against the Government.
What benefit will the student organisations reap from demanding sufficient manpower and infrastructure for DMU, they questioned and asked if the Education Minister wants abolishment of DMU.
"Even if a rat or a lifeless object is given the Education portfolio, the student organisations will pressure whoever or whatever is holding the portfolio to look into the need of the students and it is nothing personal," the joint statement asserted and asked the Education Minister to not make fun of students' movement "though he might be afraid of losing his portfolio" .
They also said they will face all challenges or accusations which may tarnish the history of student's movements and sought an appointment with the Education Minister for a public debate on the topic.