Students Vs Centre’s man : MU in dire strait
- The Sangai Express Editorial :: July 12 2018 -

One a man hand picked by the Centre as the Vice Chancellor of Manipur University and the other students, teachers and employees of the varsity up in arms to demand that the VC be sacked.

MU paralysed for over 40 days now and the latest instruction from the Union Human Resource Development Ministry to the State Government to close the hostels of the said varsity and ‘vacate persons involved in anti-National activities until normalcy is restored’ is more than enough testimony that the Centre continues to stand behind the VC who was sent as a trouble shooter when MU was then caught in a mess with three VCs-in-charge resigning one after the other on the reservation quota for ST and SC students some time back.

Time for all to seriously study and question why Adya Prasad Pandey was sent to MU in the first place.

It was the in-fighting in the university which left the door wide open for the Centre to step in and send its hand picked man and this is a point which should not be forgotten in a hurry.

On the same day that the HRD Ministry issued the instruction to the State Government, the Vice Chancellor too issued a statement wherein he directly pointed the finger of accusation at MUSU, calling them a group of students who are ‘immune to the sentiments of the students and their guardians in pursuit of their own interests.’

This is perhaps the first time that the VC has come out with such a strongly worded statement against the students who are demanding his ouster from MU.

And that it came out on the same day that Union HRD Ministry issued the instruction to the State Government is a ‘wonderful co-incidence’.

MUTA too has not been spared, with the VC holding that the strike will not affect them as they will continue to enjoy their salary.

Free salary-this is another way of looking at what the VC has had to say. Also interesting to note that the VC has pin pointed the root cause of the demand of MUSU to the huge monetary demand made by the student organisation from the VC after the University Week.

Now it is not only MUSU and MUTA levelling charges against the VC but the VC too levelling a charge against MUSU and deriding the stand of MUTA with the observation that the teachers will continue to enjoy their salary despite everything coming to a grinding halt at the university.

Apart from this, it is clear that the Centre is not ready to give in to the demand of MUSU, MUTA and MUSA and the natural question that follows is, what then ?

Will the situation continue or will the Centre take up some steps which can restore normalcy at MU ?

Tough to say what steps the Centre may take, but what is clear is the point that so far they are standing solidly behind Adya Prasad Pandey.

As noted here earlier, the State Government may not have much of a say in the matter, but it would help to know where it stands.

Wouldn’t the opinion of the State Government be considered when the Centre decides to take any step on the issue ?

The important point is, what would be the response of the State Government if and when it is sought by the Centre ?

Will the RSS background of AP Pandey come in the way or will it be strictly by the merit of the situation ?