ATSUM urges Govt to resolve KCP-Catholic Schools imbroglio
Source: The Sangai Express

Kangpokpi, June 23 2019: Condemning the imposition of 'curfew' in some Catholic schools in the valley by Kangleipak Communist Party (MC), the All Tribal Students' Union Manipur (ATSUM) has urged the State Government to resolve the KCP-Catholic schools issue once and for all in the larger interest of thousands of students whose careers are at stake.

A press communique issued by the information and publicity department, ATSUM stated that a curfew/ ban is being imposed upon five Catholic schools in the valley, including Little Flower School, St Joseph Hr Sec School, Catholic School Canchipur, Nirmalabas School and Christ Jyoti, Mantripukhri by KCP-MC and it appealed to the outfit to immediately lift the curfew taking into consideration the fate of thousands of students studying in the said schools.

It continued that the charges levelled against the Catholic Education Society Manipur regarding spreading of Christianity to students and undertaking Christian activities in the schools by KCP-MC might be true or false, as it is best known to both the parties but it added that Catholic Education Society Manipur and its schools are non-Governmental educational institutions which have a mission and for the matter, they have established the schools.

As such, it is the prerogative of the parents/guardians to decide whether or not to send their wards to these schools, it explained adding that merely banning or imposing curfew upon these schools on the ground of unfounded allegations will be a great blunder and an irreparable loss to the students in particular and the society in general.

It added that there was a time when the Catholic schools in Imphal faced the same situation for imparting moral science/education in the schools.

ATSUM said that it is an undeniable fact that most Catholic schools have Churches in and around the school but it is not necessarily meant for the students.

It is mainly for the Catholic Christians of that particular Parish for Sunday Mass, ATSUM explained adding that intimidating/opposing the existence of Churches in and around Catholic Christian schools is really unfortunate and is tantamount to religious persecution.

The fundamental rights embodied in Part III of the Indian Constitution guarantee the right to freedom of religion and the fundamental rights are defined as the basic human rights of all humans, it added.

"It is in the best interest of all communities living in Manipur that a resolution was adopted in the General Assembly of the All Tribal Students' Union Manipur (ATSUM) held on June 21 at Imphal Hotel to condemn the order of the outfit", it said and added that all the apex hill based students' union, NSUC, TKS, SDSA, ZSUM, KSO districts/branches and few other organizations from Churachandpur, participated in the assembly to unanimously voice their concern against the order.

It further said that KSO-GHQ and the All Naga Students' Association (ANSAM) unequivocally stated their concern for the student community whose career will be at stake if the ban is not lifted and the August house was of the opinion that education should be made a 'free zone' .

It also conveyed that the Government must promptly initiate all necessary measures to save the thousands of students whose careers are at stake and resolve the KCP-Catholic Education Society Manipur issue once and for all.

Comment