Manipur University issue rocks both outside and inside State Assembly
Opposition MLAs question if VC Pandey is indispensible
Source: IT News

Imphal, July 23 2018: Ongoing impasse at Manipur University which put academic activities to a grinding halt for 54 days today not only rocked the state assembly session but also normalcy in and around Manipur State Assembly was put to a war like zone as students' protestors along with local supporters confronted police personnel at many place of Thangmeiband area.

Inside the ongoing State Assembly session Congress MLAs K Govindas and K Ranjit move a calling attention motion regarding the issue and plead the Speaker of the house to convert it as short duration discussion so that a resolution may be adopted to pressurise the center over the demand of the Manipur University Community which is supported by various civil society organisations of the state, be submitted to the central government.

Speaker of the house Y Khemchand denied the plea and appealed the two MLAs to continue as Calling attention motion.

Manipur University issue rocks both outside and inside State Assembly

Moving the calling attention motion Congress MLA Govindas Konthoujam drew the attention of the house over the state government inability to solve the problem at MU arises due to alleged irregularities by the VC Prof.AP Pandey.

"Is the VC AP Pandey indispensible, if so the government should direct the central authority to place at somewhere which they felt it best as his presence in the Manipur university is ruining the whole students of the state", Govindas said.

He added that due to the ongoing impasse result of the 6 semester Graduate result appeared by 15,800 students have been awaiting and it is likely that they may lost all chances of continuing their higher studies at Universities across the country as the present Manipur University cannot provide seats for all the students.

MLA K.Ranjit while joining Govindas in the calling attention said that he feel ashamed of discussing issue for a person like A P Pandey.

"Is Pandey above the Chief Minister, the Governor or the 60 MLAs?" Ranjit questioned and said that the house needs to take a resolution by converting the call attention motion as short duration discussion at which the speaker denied.

Manipur University issue rocks both outside and inside State Assembly

Answering to the call attention motion Education Minister Th.Radheshyam said that all effort has been taking up to find a solution.

Appreciating the opposition MLAs for understanding that the state government has limitation to the issue of MU Radheshyam said that a team of the state government led by the Deputy Chief Minister Y.Joykumar have visited the MUTA members and discussed about the issue to find an amicable solution.

Chief Minister N.Biren Singh, who is also the leader of the house while showing his concerned also stated that he and his government have been working all possible way to solve the impasse at Manipur University.

He said that as per the desires of the MUTA, MUSA and MUSU a strong delegation led by him had appraised the HRD Ministry to include a retired justice to the fact finding team which the Ministry accepted.

He further added that all political party meeting held yesterday had also resolved to appoint a Pro VC and enquiry of the fact finding committee be preceded after giving leave to the VC.

Reacting to the Chief Minister's statement K Ranjit said that the Chief Minister and his government did not seem to understand the demand of the Manipur University Community.

He said appointment of Pro VC is done as per the recommendation of the VC and after the approval of the Executive Council of the Manipur University which the VC is the Chairman of the council which consist of Prof.from the University.

He said the MUSU, MUTA and stands firm with their demand for an independent enquiry after removing VC.

When the opposition and the ruling are having heated argument over the issue of the Manipur University, various students of the state thronged to the Manipur Legislative Assembly.

Confrontation between the police and the students took place at various places around Assembly secretariat.