A number of tribal student bodies came together for a protest at Jantar Mantar on Tuesday to highlight the “paralysis” being faced at Manipur University since May 30. The students said that steps need to be taken to ensure that the Central university, which comprises 86 colleges and institutions, returns to normalcy.
They demanded that a high-level independent inquiry committee needs to be set up to bring a “permanent solution to the frequent problems in Manipur University in the last decade”.
Blames State govt
Under the banner of Joint Tribal Students’ Bodies, Manipur, the protesters blamed the State government, which is responsible for maintaining law and order situation of the university for not taking any effective measure for restoration of normalcy.
Since May 30, the Manipur University Students’ Union (MUSU) with the support of the Manipur University Teacher’s Association (MUTA) have been on protest over their demand for removal of the Vice-Chancellor.
The protesters said, “Due to the current impasse created by the MUSU volunteers inside the university, disrupting all administrative and academic affairs, the careers of all bachelor’s and master’s degree students are in great jeopardy. This is tantamount to assassination of students’ career and is an irreparable loss for the whole society.”
They added that the blame game should stop immediately and the students’ body should immediately withdraw its agitation to pave way for resumption of normal administrative and academic activities in the university. They felt that the agitation was counter-productive.
The Federation of Central University Teachers’ Association (FEDCUTA) had come out with a statement on Monday saying its complete solidarity with the MUTA as well as other sections of the Manipur University community, and appeals to the President to immediately institute an independent inquiry into the charges of misgovernance, pending which the Vice-Chancellor must be sent on leave.
The FEDCUTA also appealed to Chancellor Najma Heptullah who is also Governor of Manipur to intervene in the matter to ensure that normalcy is restored in the University and students’ careers are not jeopardised.
Students and teachers have been on strike for more than a month, demanding the resignation of Vice-Chancellor A.P. Pandey for “gross dereliction of duty and blatant flouting of all financial and administrative rules and norms”.