Local residents and politicians join varsity protest

Pothashang News Service: Imphal, July 31, 2018: People including veteran politicians on Tuesday took out a protest rally near Manipur University to support the varsity community’s demand for ouster of vice-chancellor Adya Prasad Pandey from the varsity.

Veteran Politian Okram Joy who left BJP and his colleague N.Mangi Singh joined the rally that marched from Kakwa to varsity gate in Canchipur here to join the varsity community who are undergoing relay hunger strike at the varsity gate, where a public meeting was also held.

Pandey is denied by teachers, students, staff of the varsity and the people. He has been activating a martial law here, guarded by Y category security. If this has happened in Bengal, UP or Maharastra will Narendra Modi and concern ministers remain silent. They have been trying to sabotage the varsity community voice blaming them of having nexus with underground organisations, said Joy.

 “I left BJP yesterday to combat problems of discrimination faced by the people. Why Manipur chief minister cannot stand against active to save the students’ career? It is very shameful,” said Joy.

Nimai Singh, spokesperson of MUTA, said the strike has crosses two months. However the voice of the varsity community has been neglected. But we will not retreat, he added.

There has been propaganda in support of Pandey. Yesterday it was published in a newspaper that an enquiry has proved Pandey innocent. Member of the fact finding committee P. Nandakumar Singh, acting chief justice of Meghalaya High Court, HRD ministry and Manipur government should clarify on this, said Nimai.

President of Manipur University Students’ Union (MUSU) M. Dayaman has appealed the newspaper house to clarify in three days and cautioned to ban the paper.

The students have reached to the point of burning themselves. If such attempts occur central and Manipur governments should be responsible, said Nimai.

If the state government cannot solve even this small problem how can big issues of border pillar or Framework Agreement be solved,” he added.

Convenor of Local People Surrounding MU, Canchipur, T. Nando said we have observed that both the Centre and state avoid Manipur University and people of the state. BJP should not stand against the people and it should let the people take BJP as people’s enemy, he added.

MUSU has also declared to boycott the Independence Day celebration and appealed the students and people not to take part in the celebration.

Volunteers of Kangleipak Students Association and North East Forum for International Solidarity today stormed at the gate of HRD minister office in Delhi in support of the varsity community.