Imphal, October 08, 2009: One month has been completed today all educational institutions in Manipur remained shutting down leaving students and guardians are at their wits' end.

There were no sign of opening the institutions as agitating student bodies remained stick to their stand to continue the stir till O Ibobi step down from the post of chief minister.

The All Manipur Students' Union (AMSU) called for an indefinite closure of all schools and colleges effective from September 9, demanding resignation of Chief Minister Okram Ibobi Singh to protest against the alleged extrajudicial killing of a youth in July 23.Later, it was supported by Manipuri student Federation (MSF) and Kangleipak Students' Association (KSA) Parents and guardians are blaming the government for not taking any step to break the deadlock expressing not happy with the student bodies for dragging the students to take part in the agitations-spearheading the class boycott stir.

The suspension of classes of the students have kept future of the students is at great risk.

Now academic session is at its high peak and there are no classes for a straight of one month.

Both the government and agitating student bodies are jeopardizing future of thousands of students, parents blamed.

Firstly, student bodies had stepped into a wrong step by dragging students to take part in an indefinite shutdown.

Secondly, we could not agree with the government as they failed to break the deadlock even after the agitation was launched month back, Athokpam Langientombi, mother of two children lamented whose children stay at home after the boarding closed.

State education minister, L Jayentakumar who termed the decision of class boycott by the student bodies as unfortunate and hd appealed to review the decision at several occasion.

Even the chief minister Ibobi appealed stating stopping education means breaking the backbone of the society.

No positive response comes up from the agitating students bodies.

They remained stick to their stand in support of agitations spearheading by the Apunba Lup, a conglomerate of civil society groups seeking resignation of the chief minister for alleged extra judicial killings, are refusing to hold talks with the government.

Lamenting that life is precious than education, when there is no security of life, no need for education, the three student bodies rejected any plea to shift the form of agitation other than the class boycott call until Okram Ibobi step down from the chief minister post.

They are blaming the government for the prevailing chaotic situation which security force is killing people in fake encounter in unrestrained manner.

When appeals come up for review from the civil organizations, they instead asked to join the agitation.

In a joint statement, the student bodies had branded such organizations which appeal to end the class boycott call without participation in the agitation as 'mouthpiece' of the government.

The state of Manipur, home to 2.4 million people is fast turning into a lawless region with militants dictating terms and the security forces killing innocent civilians in fake encounters.

The civil administration virtually does not exist in many places.

In what could be termed as one of the worst stages for the student community since the beginning of the current academic session, students of the state have already missed 31 days of learning due to different bandhs, strikes, government imposed curfews, and the calls for class boycott by three student bodies before the students bodies called indefinite class boycott.

The 30 day (including holidays) completion today, since the starts of the class boycott stir from September 9 it can be said two months have been lost.

As there is no sign that the current upheaval would die down sooner, given the tussle, the worst casualties may continue to be the students.

For the sake of students, for the sake of our future, if chief minister Okram Ibobi know himself the meaning of what he said in the closing function of the School Meet 2009 at Khuman Lampak last week "It is like breaking backbone to stop education," he should act accordingly in finding a way to end the present turmoil, if he consider himself to be the leader of the people of the state, Haobijam Leibakmacha, father of two children demanded.

Comment