MUTA decries CM's statement as childish, MUSU rejects HRD probe panel
Source: The Sangai Express

Imphal, July 13 2018: Chief Minister N Biren appeared quite childish and it looked like he has been condoning Manipur University Vice-Chancellor Prof AP Pandey, decried MUTA.

MUTA made this remark in connection with what the Chief Minister told the media during a press conference yesterday.

The Chief Minister reportedly told media that there was a monetary demand of Rs 5 crore from one insurgent group to VC Prof Pandey.

Speaking to media persons at Manipur University today, MUTA spokesman Prof Debanand Ningthoujam decried that Chief Minister N Biren projected the ongoing agitation of MU students, teachers and staff in the wrong light.

He categorically stated that the ongoing agitation has no anti-National element.

Biren's statement that an insurgent group demanded Rs 5 crore from Prof Pandey and that he (Biren) has a copy of the demand letter not only confused the people but also projected the ongoing agitation in such way that it is related with the insurgent group's demand.

The particular statement appeared quite childish and it was unbecoming of a public leader, Prof Debanand said.

He went on to claim that 80 per cent of the allegations levelled against the VC are known to all the students and teachers of the university.

There are only two options to resolve the crisis.

Manipur University may be abolished in the interest of Prof Pandey or Prof Pandey may be dismissed to protect the university, he asserted and urged the Central Government and the State Government to choose what they prefer from the two options.

However, the ongoing agitation to dismiss the VC would not be withdrawn under any circumstances, Prof Debanand said.

If the protracted crisis should be resolved, Prof Pandey should be dismissed and a high level independent enquiry committee headed by a Chief Justice of High Court should probe into the charges levelled against the VC.

In the meantime, a VC in-charge should be appointed to restore normal academic atmosphere in MU.

This is the common non-negotiable demand of MUSU, MUTA and MUSA, he stated.

Prof N Nimai, another spokesman of MUTA, said that it is a matter of law and order if there is any monetary demand to the VC.

But the way Prof Pandey apprised the matter to the Central Government without sharing any information with the State Government only exposed Prof Pandey's contempt towards the State Government, Prof Nimai said.

Questioning if there is any connection with the insurgents' monetary demand and the demand for dismissal of the derelict VC, Prof Nimai remarked that the Chief Minister was speaking as if he was a spokesman of VC Prof Pandey.

None of the MU teachers have any inclination to ever work together with Prof Pandey, he said.

On the other hand, a joint meeting of MUSU, MUTA and MUSA was held at 11.30 am today on what Chief Minister N Biren stated to the media yesterday.

The meeting endorsed the demand for enquiry into the charges levelled against VC Prof Pandey by a high level independent enquiry committee.

On the other hand, MUSU has reiterated that the only way to resolve the protracted Manipur University crisis is through dismissal of VC Prof Pandey.

MUSU president M Dayaman decried that the HRD Ministry termed their democratic agitation as anti-National.

The Ministry's decision to institute an enquiry committee comprising of one official of the Ministry and one UGC official is unacceptable to MUSU.

Instead of ever listening to the grievances and demand of the students, HRD Ministry always stood on the side of VC Prof Pandey.

As such, MUSU cannot trust any enquiry committee set up by the HRD Ministry, Dayaman said.

Saying that what Chief Minister N Biren told the media appeared that the ongoing agitation for dismissal of Prof Pandey is connected to a monetary demand served to Prof Pandey by a UG group, Dayaman condemned the Chief Minister's statement.

Asserting that the ongoing agitation has no connection with any insurgent group, the MUSU president demanded the Chief Minister to substantiate his attempt to link the ongoing agitation with monetary demand of a UG group.

It appeared that the Chief Minister was speaking at the behest of the VC, he added.

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