Imphal, September 13: The All Tribal Students' Union Manipur (ATSUM) has threatened for a mass withdrawal of tribal students from the Manipur University (MU) if the authorities go ahead with the recruitment of lecturers and other staff as planned by the Manipur University authorities.

The ATSUM also warned that the withdrawal of the tribal students will happen on the day the interviews get over and the result of the recruitment is declared.

The tribal students will have no other choice than to pull out en-mass from the University, said Ch Shangreipam, Secretary (education) ATSUM in a press release on Friday.

The secretary reminded that ATSUM and Manipur University Tribal Students' Union (MUTSU) had taken a hard decision of mass withdrawal of tribals from the MU on March 11, 2008.However, the mass exodus was put on hold at the intervention of the State Government and the Chief Minister and his promises to do whatever was possible from his side, informed the secretary.

It was also agreed that all forms of recruitment to the University would be put on hold, reminded the secretary of ATSUM.

However, the University authorities have decided to break the gentleman's agreement and go ahead with the recruitment citing that no written agreement was signed but only a verbal request from the CM, said Ch Shangreipam, secretary of the student body.

Stating that it hurts the feelings of the tribal, ATSUM has decided to withdraw all tribal students from the University the day the recruitment gets over and the results are declared.

Though the decision taken after that day will be purely by the tribals, the secretary warned that ATSUM would not be wholly responsible for the decision.

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