MUC admission row: Students decry Govt's silence
Source: The Sangai Express

Imphal, December 29 2020: Demanding intervention to settle the admission row at Manipur University of Culture (MUC) and denouncing imposition of Section 144 inside the college campus, the students of Government Dance and Music College today took out a march towards the CM's Bungalow.

The march taken out by the students at around 2 pm was however stopped by a police team led by OC of Imphal PS at Sanjenthong assuring to facilitate select representatives to call on the CM by taking an appointment.

The students who were held for hours then raised slogans for making them wait for too long on a roadside.

MUC admission row: Students decry Govt's silence

"It is extremely saddening that we are denied appointment till late evening," said one of the students who was also sure that they will never be getting an appointment as it was already getting dark.

Deceiving and playing with the sentiments of the aggrieved students was along expectation, he said while adding that their protest has been on since the past few weeks.

Asking whether they will have to spend the night in the middle of a bridge, he also ridiculed why the CM who also holds the portfolio of Art and Culture, has not given any response.

He also reminded that the issue was very serious as it will decide the fate of many students.

Few representatives of the students had met the Commissioner of Art and Culture Department earlier today but could not make any headway, he said while adding that there will be negative consequences if the authorities concerned fail to deliver a solution to the issue at the earliest.

He further questioned why Section 144 was imposed inside the college campus.

Denial of entry of students to the campus is extremely unacceptable and pitting students against security forces will not bring any solution but will only aggravate the situation, he continued.

If there is any commotion or ill consequence, the Deputy Registrar and VC in-charge of MUC should be held responsible, he said.

The students will not accept any foul play of these 'authorities who do not have any knowledge about Art and Culture', he said while asserting that they are even ready to give up their lives for their cause.

It may be mentioned that the students of Government Music and Dance College have been demanding to allow them pursue higher studies at MUC.

As their demands have not been considered they had demanded to dissociate MUC from their college since the office of MUC is inside their college campus.

They had also removed equipment and furniture of the office of MUC earlier and yesterday following which Section 144 was imposed by Imphal East District Magistrate based on a complaint lodged by Deputy Registrar of MUC.