Stay off MU campus: MUTA to probe panel
Source: The Sangai Express

Imphal, July 16 2018: The Manipur University Teachers' Association (MUTA), while asking if there is no man other than Prof AP Pandey who is qualified to hold the post of Manipur University VC, has categorically stated no member of the fact finding committee set up by the HRD Ministry would be allowed entry into MU campus.

Speaking to media persons today, MUTA spokesman Prof A Nimai asserted that the low level enquiry committee set up by the HRD Ministry is unacceptable.

It is also known to everyone that the members of the fact finding committee are close associates of Prof Pandey, Nimai said.

The basic demands of the ongoing agitation are dismissal of VC Prof Pandey and a thorough enquiry into his wrongdoings by a high level independent enquiry committee, said the spokesman.

Saying that they presented a detailed report about the ongoing agitation to Governor Dr Najma Heptulla apart from holding meetings with Chief Minister N Biren twice, Nimai lamented neither the Visitor (President of India) nor the Prime Minister has so far initiated any step to resolve the protracted crisis even memoranda had been submitted to them about the common demands and collective agitation of MUSU, MUTA and MUSA.

He went on to ask as to why the Government of India has been condoning Prof Pandey.

He further asked whether Chief Minister N Biren is incapable of taking independent decisions on the issue or whether he is pretending to be ignorant.

The issue could have been solved at its very initial stage had the Government of India removed Prof Pandey from the post of VC but the Government of India has been acting as if there is no man other than Prof Pandey who is fit to hold the post of Manipur University VC, Prof Nimai decried.

He added that there is no question of ever calling off the ongoing agitation until Prof Pandey is dismissed from his position.

MUTA general secretary Prof L Sanjukumar said that Prof Pandey should be dismissed first before a high level independent enquiry committee is constituted to enquire the allegations levelled against him.

While sustaining his political connections, Prof Pandey was working to transform Manipur University to a political platform.

Such political activities of the VC need to be checked effectively and ProfPandey should not be retained as VC of Manipur University under any circumstances, he asserted.

Prof L Sanjukumar also conveyed gratitude to all the CSOs and political parties which have been supporting the university community's agitation.

Meanwhile, another joint meeting of MUSU, MUTA and MUSA was held today and adopted three resolutions.

Apart from condemning the brutality with which Manipur Police treated student volunteers of DESAM today, the meeting resolved to demand a magisterial enquiry into the incident immediately.

The second resolution reiterated that removal of VC Prof pandey is a sine quo non to precede any intervention to resolve the present crisis in MU.

Prof Pandey's removal should be immediately followed by institution of a independent high power committee to probe into the financial and administrative irregularities committed by Prof Pandey as VC of MU, says the third resolution.

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