Imphal, October 09 2008: No tribal students will return to Manipur University (MU) for whatsoever reason until "an unconditional and an amicable solution" is brought about regarding the prevailing situation, according to leaders of the Manipur University Tribal Students Union (MUTSU).

The MUTSU leaders have also urged all the tribal students to participate in the sit-in-protest to be held near Manipur Baptist Convention (MBC) compound in Imphal on October 10 from morning onwards.

They further informed that tribal students will also hold massive protest rally in New Delhi on Friday showing solidarity to the tribal people's cause in Manipur.

Talking to NNN on Thursday, student leaders led by Manipur university Tribal Students Union spokesman Michael Lunminthang, former MUTSU president and advisor to MUTSU Gaisingam Gonmei and other tribal student leaders informed that an emergency meeting of the various tribal students' bodies consisting of MUTSU, All Tribal Students' Union Manipur (ATSUM), Tangkhul Katamnao Saklong (TKS), All Zeliangrong Students Union (AZSU), Churachandpur District Students Union (CDSU), Komrein Students' Union (KSU) and other tribal student bodies unanimously resolved today to pull out all tribal students from the University campus and that no tribal students will return until an amicable solution is brought about.

The meeting held at the Tribal Research Institute, Adimjati in Imphal also resolved that no further interviews, be it contract or part-time should be conducted until a solution is brought about and that the University Act, 2005 adopted by the Cabinet should be amended by the Central University .

The meeting also resolved that the University Grant Commission (UGC) should not function without the tribal students as Manipur University (MU) is meant for the people of Manipur and not just for a section of the people of Manipur, informed the MUTSU leaders.

Referring to the pull out of the students from Manipur University the MUTSU leaders informed that the decision was not taken by the student leaders but the students themselves as they could not feel at home at the University anymore even after they were being asked to go back to the University.

Instead the students are scared as they were attacked by elements from certain quarters on Monday during the agitation following alleged encouragements from the Indian Reserve Battalion (IRB) to attack them.

In such a situation how can the tribal students feel at home at the Manipur University ? questioned MUTSU leaders.

The student leaders also alleged that female students were hit with gun butts while some male students were beaten up severely by the security forces personnel deployed during the agitation on Monday.

One of the leaders was severely beaten by "certain elements" that he had to be admitted to a hospital, added the spokesperson of MUTSU.

Detailing the background to NNN, MUTSU leaders informed that the students' body had opposed the interview for the post of three part time lecturers on September 19 and had closed the Administration Block of the University.

In this connection delegates of the tribal students were taken to Delhi on September 22.However, the Prime Minister was out and talks could not be held, they added.

They further informed that an interview was called by the Manipur University authority on October 6 and 7 on a one day notice and held that it was against the norms of the UGC.

What is the motive behind the interview that was called on a short one day notice? MUTSU leaders countered.

However, the bandh was foiled and our student leaders were beaten up and arrested by the security forces, the MUTSU leaders informed.

The spokesperson of MUTSU then informed that "certain elements" came to the Kakwa police station lock-up located in Imphal West, where the tribal student leaders were being confined and threatened the student leaders.

Condemning the Officer in Charge of Kakwa police station, MUTSU leader Lunminthang Michael questioned why and how the police could allow the these elements to enter the police lock-up and question the student leaders.

While stating that the matter had been laid before L.Kailun, Superintendent of police, Imphal West, the student bodies will take action should the Imphal West police officer fail in taking action against the culprits.

The student leaders were however released on Wednesday night following a reported agreement between the leaders and the State Government.

Clarifying this stance, Lunminthang Michael informed that the student leaders had refused earlier to be freed on bail.

We want to stay in a police custody or in a jail for the cause of the tribals but we were told by the Ministers who came to the police lock-up where they had been confined, that our stay there was threatening the integrity of the State.

So, we sacrificed for the integrity of the State, said Michael.

Regarding the reservation pattern, the tribal students pointed out that the tribals of Manipur with a population of 34.2 percent as per the 2001 census were given just 7.5 percent reservation while the Schedule Caste with just 2 percent of the State population were given a reservation of 15 percent.

"Manipur is a hill State and hence the reservation pattern cannot be followed as per the mainland rules.

If one is to go by the population of the tribals in the State, the tribals deserve at least 34 percent reservation", Lunminthang Michael, Gaisingam Gonmei and other MUTSU leaders observed.

Even when the State university reserved 31 percent for the Schedule Tribes and 2 percent for the SC, hardly 10 percent were really preserved for the ST, the MUTSU leaders claimed.

Supporting his statement, the MUTSU leaders disclosed that there were just 3 ST lecturers out of the 167 lecturers in the university and 30 STs out of the 322 non-teaching staffs.

What type of reservation is this, they questioned, while adding that most of these lecturers had been promoted from the guest and part time lecturers where there was no reservation, The tribal student leaders pointed out that the STs were much more qualified than the generals when it comes to qualification through National Eligibility Test (NET) and Junior Research Fellowship (JRF) with a pass ratio of about 3:1 in favour of the tribals.

If the people of Manipur talked about 'Chingtam amatani' (The hill and the valley are one), it is rightful that the people of the State share things equally, MUTSU leaders said and urged the State to pursue the Centre for State reservation.

The tribal student leaders also alleged that the Vice Chancellor (VC) of MU would consult some section of student bodies for interview related matters and said, " As if these student bodies were a part of the MU authority.

Accusing the VC and the Registrar as the main culprits the tribal student leaders questioned why fingers were pointed against them when "the tribal students were against the discrimination of the Manipur University".

"We love Manipur as our land but in this situation it is hard for the tribals" rued Michael.

He appealed to the concerned authorities to bring about an amicable solution to the problem.

Comment