Imphal, May 01 2009: Reacting strongly to the Manipur University Vice-Chancellor to constitute a students' council when there is already a students' union elected by the students of the university, the Manipur University Students' Union cautioned the VC and cohorts not to treat/view MU students as some puppets which dictated in any manner.

A press release issued by MUSU president Ibosana Ph Ibosana reminded that the MUSU election was held with the money provided by the VC and his subordinate officials.

Taking serious note of the press statements of the VC and the Registrar that they did not recognise the incumbent MUSU, Ibosana alleged that the VC's refusal to recognise the MUSU and the proposal for students' council were all parts of his game plan to defend himself from the strict vigil of MUSU on A-Block against those working contradictory to the interest of the students.

Accusing the VC and his cohorts of turning MU A-Block into a den of corruption at the cost research scholars and post-graduate students of the University, the MUSU statement further alleged that amounts for fellowships granted by UGC, ICSSR and other foreign institutions to students have been used in paying bills for contractors.

Questioning how many books were purchased from the huge amounts sanctioned every year for the same purpose, the MUSU pointed out that unavailability of books purchased during the book fair held last year at the insistence of ex-MUSU president Ksh Narayan to students till date testified the failure of MUSU authority on this count.

Had the VC has any concern for the interest of students, his decision to constitute a students' council in place of MUSU should have been taken before the commencement of academic session and before the MUSU election process was initiated.

Nevertheless, the VC's decision adopted at the behest of some elements would not affect MUSU in its determination and commitment to the welfare of MU students.

Taking all these matters into consideration, the MUSU has resolved to put into practice its earlier decision of keeping a stringent vigil on the activities of MU authority, it stated.

Observing that withholding a large amount fellowship and scholarship amounts belonging to a number of students was unreasonable, the MUSU noted that keeping back fellowship amounts only to pay bills for contractors only exposed the mind-set of MU authority which viewed contractors with greater importance instead of students.

As such, all ongoing contract works within MU campus have been prohibited with immediate effect until all overdue monthly and annual fellowship amounts of all students are paid, the MUSU conveyed.

It also appealed to all contractors / sub-contractors doing contract works without requisite work orders to give information about their works to MUSU within three days.

No new construction works will be allowed until the ongoing construction works are fully completed.

Asking for payment of all overdue monthly and annual fellowships to rightful students within three days, it cautioned that MUSU will take its own course of action against A-Block in case the MU authority fail to pay the due amounts.

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