One ATSUM faction begins blockade, other defers
Source: Hueiyen News Service / NNN
Kangpokpi, August 22 2014 :
Demanding immediate implementation of the Central Educational Institutes (Reservation in Admission) Amendment Act 2012, All Tribal Students' Union Manipur (ATSUM) has resolved to launch indefinite economic blockade beginning midnight of August 22 .
Marahang Ngiimai, ATSUM General Secretary today said that it will continue the agitation by imposing an indefinite economic blockade in all Highways passing through the state of Manipur with effect from midnight today.
Condemning the Manipur University Authorities for trying to delay the implementation of the said Act despite instructions from University Grants Commission way back in September 2012, the student leader pointed out that the Act could have been enforced from 2013-14 academic session.
'We are demanding nothing from the share of other communities, but what is due to us', asserted Marahang Ngiimai before cautioning that ATSUM will accept no further excuse or delaying tactics from any authority.
Reminding the state government of various unfinished agenda of ATSUM, Marahang Ngiimai also cited that the students' body's demands like settlement of RULES of the Manipur Reservation of Vacancies in Posts and Services (for SC/ST) Act, 1976 once and for all while acknowledging that the Department of Personnel has initiated some steps to resolve the issue.
While warning the state Government not to introduce any schemes or policy concerning the tribals, Marahang Ngiimai urged that the state Government must not implement the New Land Use Policy (NLUP) in Manipur, and pointed out that long standing demands of the tribals including autonomy and full functioning of the Hill Areas Committee are still not fulfilled.
Meanwhile, ATSUM said that Commando personnel at Pallel yesterday disturbed the peaceful agitators and volunteers of ATSUM who were enforcing the 24 hr total bandh and also arrested two volunteers who were later handed over to Kakching Police station.
Marahang Ngiimai alleged that the Officer-in-charge at Kakching Police Station deliberately abused the duo verbally using anti-tribal words.
Strongly condemning the incident, ATSUM urged the concerned higher authority to initiate suitable action against the Commando personnel and the OC, Kakching PS and cautioned against repeating such inhumane activities in future.
On the other hand, the proposed indefinite economic blockade to be imposed along the national highways in Manipur by All Tribal Students' Union Manipur (ATSUM-Tombing) starting from August 23 in connection with the ongoing impasse regarding the implementation of Central Educational Institutions (Reservation in Admission) Amendment Act, 2012, has been suspended today after assurances were given by the state government for the full implementation of the act within 15 days.
"We will wait for 15 days from now," said president of ATSUM Muan Tombing.
A meeting was held participated by the government and Manipur University authorities at the chief minister's bungalow today, according to Muan Tombing.
The meeting which started at around 3:30 in the evening continued till 6 and was led by chief minister of the state, O.Ibobi from the government side while vice-chancellor Professor HNK Sharma and registrar N.Lokendra represented the Manipur University side.
Comment
