VC effigy cremated – 28 department heads resigned

Pothashang News Service: Imphal, July 2, 2018: Intensifying its agitation Manipur University Students’ Union (MUSU) demanding replacement of vice-chancellor Adya Prasad Pandey on Monday cremated the effigy of the VC with traditional rituals at the varsity gate.

Twenty-eight head of departments out of 32 have so far tendered resignation as a part of non-cooperation movement supporting the demand for ouster of the VC.

M. Dayaman, president of MUSU said our demand has crossed a month but the central authorities remain silent. The authority is taking the side of the irresponsible VC neglecting the life and career of the students. We will continue or agitation until the Pandey is removed from his post. “So today we cremate him so that the evil deeds of Pandey in the university end from today and begins a peaceful university atmosphere,” added the student leader.

MUSU made 15 allegations to the vice-chancellor as causing to the defunct of the varsity including misuse of funds, unpunctual in office, frequently leaving the state at huge cost of the varsity fund, using his office like a night club, spending huge amount of fund with ‘Y’ category and bullet proof car provisions, fails to listen to anybody like a dictator, etc.

We have made the chief minister twice, but so far not a concrete step is taken up by the state government as well as the BJP Manipur unit. We condemn BJP. BJP is governing both at the state and the centre and they should try to save the students’ career.

The strike has affected not only the university but also the students of the colleges and institutions affiliated to the university. The authorities should be aware that they are responsible if the career of the youths in the state is spoiled by the paralysed university, he added.

At least 86 institutes are affiliated to Manipur University.

The Manipur University Teachers’ Association (MUTA) on Monday held an emergency meeting as majority heads of department tendered resignation supporting the students’ demand, and as a part of non-cooperation movement. The meeting was held to assess the situation in the varsity.

In the meeting the wardens reported the inability of sustaining the mess in the university hostels. The situation arises out of administrative collapse and non-release of funds to the respective wardens. The meeting also deliberated on various other issues consequent upon the prolonged collapse of administration of the varsity, said a statement released by the teachers association.

The meeting resolved that the Prime Minister, chief rector, minister of HRD and chief minister be requested to initiate steps upon at the earlier convenience to set up a high level enquiry committee to probe into the alleged financial and administrative irregularities committed by professor Pandey as VC.

It resolved that the wardens be requested not to resign at least till July 10 in the interest of the students. It was also resolved that MUTA would take care of the needs for mess in the hostels.

The teachers decided to donate one day’s salary for maintaining the mess in all the ten students’ hostels.