Take corrective steps on NSU now: KSO
Source: The Sangai Express

Kangpokpi, May 24 2018: Taking strong exception of the announcement made by Union Minister of Law, Ravi Shankar Prasad over the National Sports University, the Kuki Students' Organization, Sadar Hills has asked the State Government to rectify its past mistakes and take corrective measures immediately in fulfilling the promises made to its hill citizens.

The Union Minister of Law, Ravi Shankar Prasad had reportedly told media persons that a Bill to set up the country's first National Sports University in Imphal (West) district is already pending in Parliament after the Union Cabinet on Wednesday approved an ordinance to set up the varsity.

Recalling the.

consensus of all stakeholders involved in the issue of National Sports University in Manipur, the student body said that the National Sports University to be set up in Manipur had been declared as "National Sports University, Haraothel" by Letpao Haokip, Youth Affairs and Sports Minister due consultations with all stakeholders concerned including civil bodies of Imphal West, KSO Sadar Hills and KSO GHQs.

in the presence of the YAS Minister and Sekmai MLA Dingko Singh.

However, the Union Minister was quoted as saying that the proposed university will be spread over 325 acres in Imphal West District with a cost of Rs 524 crore totally negating the consensus of all the stakeholders, asserted Thangminlen Kipgen, president KSO Sadar Hills.

"We would like to remind the Central Government that the proposed university had already been agreed upon with the verbal assurance of the Youth Affairs and Sports Minister, Govt.of Manipur that it will be set up at Haraothel which is in Kangpokpi district", he added.

The KSO Sadar Hills leader also reminded the State Government that the agreement in principle to donate land belonging to Haraothel, Kangpokpi district for setting up the sports university already submitted (Secy.

YAS RR No.542 of 16/05/18) would be withdrawn as the Government does not seem interested in acknowledging the gift of land by Haomang Vaiphei, chief of Haraothel village.

He also said that the State Government has once again failed to mention that out of the 325 acres of land allocated for the National Sports University, 135 acres of land falls under Kangpokpi district.

"It appears that the State government has the irrational practice of confining all Centrally funded projects/institution within the valley districts especially Imphal even if it so happens to include land under hill districts", the student body said while adding that it has become increasingly difficult to ignore the discrimination of the State Government towards its hill districts which account for the division of hill-valley which is seen in today's Manipur.

While lauding the ordinance for India's first sports varsity in Manipur, the KSO Sadar Hills reiterated its continued belief in the State Government's sensitivity to rectify all its past mistakes and take corrective measures immediately and to begin fulfilling its promises made to its hill citizens.

"The student body will otherwise be unable to control the repercussions arising out of it, which will most likely take a very ugly turn", it warned.

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