Imphal, Aug 10: The move by some organisations to affiliate private schools located in Tamenglong, Chandel, Ukhrul and Senapati districts to Nagaland Board of Secondary Education (NBSE) and follow text books prescribed by NBSE is a part of the NSCN (IM) agenda for integration of Naga inhabited areas, said Education Minister L Nandakumar.

He asserted that these organisations spearheading the affiliation campaign even intimidated parents of the students to follow NBSE text books.

Speaking to reporters at Congress Bhavan today on his arrival from Delhi where he met Union Human Resource Development Minister Arjun Singh and Minister of State of Programme Implementation Oscar Fernandes, Nandakumar conveyed that he had disclosed to the Union Ministers that the campaign for affiliation to NBSE is in pursuance of NSCN (IM)'s demand for integration of Naga inhabited areas.

During his meeting with the Union Ministers accompanied by MP Dr T Meinya, Works Minister K Govindas and other State officials, the Education Minister apprised the Union Ministers of the State Government's decision to de-recognise any school of Manipur in case it got affiliated to NBSE, he conveyed.

He also took strong exception to the ongoing campaign when there are clear cut Acts and jurisdictions of each educational boards.

Maintaining that such a move would only derail the career of the students, the syllabi and curriculum of the State education boards were also shown to the HRD Minister.

After a patient hearing of the various points raised by the team led by the Education Minister, the HRD Minister clarified that he never assured anything to the Naga delegation.

Arjun Singh said that the matter is a State subject and there is no room for interference by the Union Government, said Nandakumar.

Referring to the report that an MLA of the Congress Party endorsed the move to affiliate schools to NBSE, Nandakumar termed it very unfortunate while clarifying that it was the individual opinion of the MLA and not the view of the Congress.

To a question, he disclosed that the Govt has definite report of intimidation and coercion to adopt NBSE text books.

He declared that any school can adopt NBSE text books at their own risks while cautioning that such schools would be de-recognised at once.

Moreover, the State Govt would not extend any benefit to students passed out from NBSE and a Cabinet meeting would be convened soon to adopt a resolution to this effect. He claimed that guardians and parents of students were threatened in the strongest term by some organisations for organising a meeting at Senapati today in connection with the text book issue.

Nandakumar said the State Govt would consider the proposal of the National Students' Union of India to distribute text books free to the students of hill districts and to organise free coaching classes for them.

Not only that, Government would consider providing concession on text books for students of hill districts for the next academic session.

Maintaining that the ongoing campaign would ultimately prove futile, the Minister appealed to all the people not to harbour any doubt on the issue.

The Union Minister Oscar Fernandes was also informed that the ongoing campaign lacks public support, he added.