Imphal, February 28: Even as a meeting between the Vice Chancellor, Deans and representatives of the MU Tribal Students' Union held today failed to resolve the crisis besieging the varsity on the issue of tribal students threatening to pull-out enmass, nine councillors of Manipur University Students' Union have decided to give up their respective posts if the impasse persists.

While a MUTSU release informed that its representatives walked out of today's meeting as 'MUTSU finds no hope on the MU authorities,' MUSU's general secretary David Haokip has formally intimated the student body's president regarding the tribal councillors decision to resign from the post of Department's councillors and executive members in case MU authorities do not respond positively on the reservation issue within the specified deadline of March 1. Stating that since the meeting with the VC and Deans could not bring about any definite solution to demands advocated by the ATSUM regarding reservation of tribal students/candidates in admission and job opportunities, the MUTSU said under such situation tribal students have no other alternative but to leave the University from march 1. "For decades, the tribal students have been fighting for quota in the Manipur University and it is shameful indeed to be a scheduled tribe, but it is not a sin when all the rightful shares are all manipulated by other communities," expressed the MUTSU release while asserting it would relentlessly strive to claim rights of the tribal students/candidates.

Contending that the VC had been repeatedly promising to do the needful without actually translating the assurance into action, MUTSU said tribal students could no longer tolerate such discriminatory attitude of MU authorities.

"if the VC of MU thinks he is not in a position to take the responsibility, he has no other alternative option but should resign from his post," it added.

On the otherhand, extending solitary to cause of the tribal students, David Haokip said demand of MUTSU for amendment of the UGC guidelines on the matter of appointments to the teaching and non-teaching posts in accordance with the population ratio of Manipur is a genuine case.

Reminding all concerned that as representatives of tribal students in the University, the MUSU councillors/executive members strongly support the agitation and fully cooperate with the tribal issue, David maintained that if all the tribal students are to leave the varsity on the specified date they too have no reason to hold onto their respective posts.

Reiterating its aspiration that MU authorities redress plight and grievances of the tribal students as jointly pursued by the ATSUM and MUTSU, the MUSU general secretary highlighted to the president that in solidarity to demand for reservation of tribal candidates in the MU establishment the councillors and executive members have decided to join the pull-out agitation.

The councillors who appended their signature in the intimation note to the MUSU president includes the sports secretary (outdoor) Khongdiyang Gangmei, sports secretary (indoor) Poujanglung Panmei, literary secretary Leivon mangboi Kom, presidential committee S benai Kipgen, social & cultural secretary Rimlithang (aboi) Chothe, Widinibou (councillor), Lalgoulen Khongsai (councillor) and editor Echo Bungui Gangmei.

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