Imphal, October 21 2008: Academic ambition of Scheduled Caste students in the Manipur University continues to remain indecisive as a team of tribal students who took their case to New Delhi failed to highlight their plight to Central leaders as no appointment schedule were accorded to them.

Among others the team of tribal students' representatives moved to the national capital to impress upon the Prime Minister Dr manmohan Singh other Central leaders grant 32.2 percent job and admission quota in Manipur University, which after being upgraded to a Central university had trimmed the ST reservation to a mere 7.5 percent.

The demand of the ST students also include setting up a separate university exclusively for tribal students in case the reservation hike is not conceded.

Confirming the inconsequential visit, president of All Tribal Students' Union manipur (ATSUM) John Pulamte said, "since our effort to meet the Prime Minister was not fruitful, we have no other alternative but to intensify our agitation.

The stir plans would be chalked out after convening a meeting with all representatives of different tribal student bodies".

Currently at Guwahati on his way home, Pulamte conveyed that during their weeklong stay at New delhi, along with the Chief Minister O Ibobi Singh hectic parleys were made to obtain an appointment with the Prime Minister as well as Union Human Resources Development Minister but to no avail.

"We are not happy with the cold response given by the central leaders to discuss our legitimate demands.

In fact our leaders (Chief Minister and other ministers) did their best but without any positive development," he maintained.

further stating that the Chief Minister had confided to members of the student delegation to keep abreast of the PM's itinerary for another attempt in the first week of November to highlight their grievances, Pulamte expressed that the CM's intimation would be discussed at a later date.

Inspite of the failure to meet the Prime Minister and Union Minister concerned a memorandum addressed to Dr Manmohan Singh was reportedly handed to the Rajya Sabha MP Rishang Keishing and Outer Manipur Parliamentarian Mani Charenamei.

Pulamte also informed that Manipur University Tribal Students Union (MUTSU) president Sonthang Haokip and All Tribal Students' Union Manipur (ATSUM) spokesperson Thomas Paishy, who were part of the delegation, left New Delhi yesterday.

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