Tribal students to impose hill bandh from Jul 23
Source: The Sangai Express
Imphal, July 21 2018:
Protesting the prolonged closure of Manipur University and the inaction of the State Government, the July 13 Moreh attack and the assault of peaceful protesters and student leaders at Churachandpur on July 6, the Joint Tribal Student Bodies, Manipur has decided to resume the previously relaxed indefinite bandh in the hill areas of Manipur from 6 am of July 23 .
In a statement issued to the media today, the student body said that MU has been closed since May 30 and added that there should be an inquiry commission or a fact finding committee to probe the allegations against him.
The question of removing him or not must be on the basis of the findings of the probe team, it added.
To remove the VC just on the basis that he is a non-native of Manipur would not be right, said the student body and added that allegations levelled against him have been refuted by the VC himself and so until and unless the charges are substantiated, removing him just like that would be unfair and against natural justice and rule of law.
Throwing its weight behind AP Pandey, the statement said that the VC, ever since he assumed charge has maintained efficiency, transparency, integrity and justice without any bias in any manner, claimed the Joint Tribal Student Bodies, Manipur.
Reservation policy in staff recruitment and student admissions has been followed as per the guidelines without any manipulation or prejudice, it added.
If the agitators are adamant that the post of VC should be held by a local, then they should first demand the decentralisation of MU and make it a State university, added the statement.
Now that the Ministry of Human Resource Development has instituted a fact finding committee, the agitating students and teachers should allow the university to function normally until the committee completes and submits its report with recommendations, it added.
Thestudentbodyfurthercondernned the attack and murder attempt of innocent children, student leader and civilians at Gamnom Veng, Moreh at 2 am of July 13 by heavily armed cadres of an armed group, which is under the SoO pact.
That not one perpetrator has been arrested till now is unacceptable, added the student body.
The failure of the Government to take up any action against the violent KSO activists who assaulted TSA Kangvai president, Thangminlun Haokip during the joint tribal student associations bandh on 6 July in connection with recruitment of tribal MIL teachers and the impasse in Manipur University was also strongly condemned.