Don't rob our rights : MUTSU
Source: The Sangai Express

Sadar Hills, August 02 2016: Dismayed with the annual row over the issue of reservation policy in Manipur University, the apex tribal student body of the university, Manipur University Tribal Students' Union (MUTSU) has warned the authorities concerned not to reduce Manipur University to an infamous varsity today.

Speaking on the sidelines of visiting hill based tribal student bodies today in Sadar Hills and Senapati district, Thangtinlen Haokip, president of MUTSU said that the Central Educational Institutions (Reservation in Admission) Amendment Act, 2012 adhered to by Manipur University authority is an Act of Parliament which was subsequently upheld by the High Court in its ruling on September 3, 2014 .

Therefore, any individual or organization which want rectification or modification of the Act should rather approach the Parliament or the High Court and not the university authority, asserted the MUTSU leader before adding that misinterpreting the Central Educational Institutions (Reservation in Admission) Amendment Act, 2012 will be an attempt to infringe upon the Constitutional rights of the tribal students.

He continued that every year since Manipur University authority adhere to the Central Educational Institutions (Reservation in Admission) Amendment Act 2012, the misinterpretation of the Act by some section of the people in an attempt to rob the tribal students rights largely has affected the normal academic process jeopardising the future of many students.

The student leader further said that such biased, one-sided and illogical attitude of some anti-social elements who always misconstrue the Parliament Act will ultimately lead to communal instability not only in the university but the State as a whole if not stopped early once and for all.

"Is misinterpreting the Constitutional rights of the tribal students an act of brotherhood ?" asked the MUTSU president and noted that the valley people (Meetei) are not sincere enough to accommodate the minority hill (tribal) communities and questioned what is the significance of shouting "Chingmi Tammi Amatani" on every occasion.

He also said that if the majority community is really allergic to the tribal students in the university it is imperative to open regional campus in all hill districts of the State as done in other NE States such as Assam, Nagaland, Meghalaya, etc.

Surprisingly, it has also been alleged that some Professors and academic council of the university are also involved in the attempt to suppress the Parliament Act and subvert the Constitutional rights of the tribal students, Haokip said.

While reiterating the Manipur University Tribal Students' Union (MUTSU) stance of supporting the university authority's decision over the reservation policy, Thangtinlen Haokip cautioned that the union will not remain a mute spectator if the Constitutional rights of the tribal students are violated .

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