Presidency College students intensify stir
Source: The Sangai Express
Kanggui, August 22 2013:
The Students' Union of Presidency College, Motbung has intensified its ongoing agitation by shutting down the College administration today in its pursuit to exert pressure on the Government and the department concerned to honour the Union's demands at the earliest possible.
the Union had launched the movement with class boycott agitation since August 20 followed by sit-in protest in front of the College gate demanding immediate release of pending Scholarships 2012-13 for more than 200 ST students, apology from the Directorate of Tribal Development and Hills Department and replacement of Hindi teachers who were recently transferred to DM College, Imphal.
Informing that memorandum has been placed to the Minister concerned on the demands and immediate attention but failed to evoke positive response till date, Union secretary Nemneithem Kipgen pointed out that inspite of being aware about the agitation the department concerned continue to belittle the issue.
"This unmanageable attitude and pig-headed mind-set of the Government and Tribal Development and Hills Department deeply annoy us thereby compelling us to close down even the administration of the College from today", she said and affirmed that the College Administration as well as classes will remain closed till their genuine demands are honoured.
Nemneithem also cautioned that the Government should take the responsibility if any untoward incident occur as a fallout of the protracted stir.
In the meantime, the Kuki Students' Organization, Sadar Hills today sought immediate intervention of the Deputy Chief Minister Gaikhangam, who also holds Tribal Affairs and Hills portfolio.
While drawing the attention of the Dy CM, KSO-SH president Thangminlen Kipgen noted that the agitation of suspending classes and indifferent attitude of the TD Department had been causing serious inconveniences to the students.
Describing the Union demands as genuine and justifiable Thangminlen urged the Dy CM to look into the matter and bring an amicable solution at the earliest possibility so that the student community can resume their studies and the College administration function smoothly.
"The KSO Sadar Hills is very much concerned about the closing down of the Presidency College Motbung by the Students' Union and we are also in a position to endorse their stir in demanding genuine demands if the stir is intensified in the future since we accept that their demands are justifiable", he said while warning the Government as well as the department concerned that anything can happen in the future in case solution remains elusive.