Source: The Sangai Express
Imphal, September 30 2009:
Claiming there is enough indication that Chief Minister O Ibobi Singh would be soon unsettled from the post he is dictating terms, student bodies such as the AMSU, MSF and KSA alleged that attempts are being made to discourage the people's movement by targeting leaders of organisations spearheading various demonstrations.
Claiming that Congress party leaders of the State had been intimated by the Union Home Minister P Chidambaram on imminent change of guard within the SPF coalition, a joint statement of AMSU, MSF and KSA insisted that directive had been issued by the Central Government to change the DGP as well.
However, the CM in order to prolong his own survival and continue indulgence in misgovernance is shielding the DGP for which intense lobbying is on with Central leaders including constant conveyance to the UPA Chairperson Sonia Gandhi, the student bodies alleged while opining that such misinformation campaign would fail as the Central Government is well aware that the Chief Minister is the 'problem creator'.
In alleging that attempts are being made to project AMSU, MSF and KSA in the wrong light with regard to the ongoing movement, the statement said on September 28 afternoon a meeting was convened at 1st MR Banquet Hall where representatives of All Manipur Govt Higher Secondary Lecturers' Association, senior citizens, some heads of institutions in Imphal West and East districts, All Manipur Govt Recognised Private School Welfare Association, etc were invited.
At the meeting supposed to be attended by top civil government officials particularly from the Education Department and inspite of the fact that there was no mention in the meeting circular of the DGP's presence, Y Joykumar showed up and tried to forcibly extract a meeting resolution, the joint statement maintained.
It also informed that those invited to attend the meeting being dignified, cerebrally more resourceful than the DGP and with unflinching commitment for betterment of the society foiled the DGP's coercive ploy to materialise SPF Government's sinister design to not only portray the student bodies in bad light but also subjugate the people's movement.
Cautioning all concerned that inspite of setbacks suffered by the Government there would be even more sinister attempts to prove the agitation spearheads are committing mistakes, the student bodies also contended that Congress MLAs, upon whom Ibobi's survival depends on, are capitalising on the insecure position of O Ibobi Singh in the form of proposals and seeking favouritism.
Such hobnobbing of opportunist Congress legislators have also created widespread disenchantment among the bureaucrat circle with the rampant wrongdoings subsequently reaching the corridors in New Delhi who deputed a Central team.
Representatives of the Central Government during their recent visit to the State could also affirm misrule of the SPF Government, the joint statement claimed.
Referring to a Cabinet decision to ban the three student bodies, it challenged the Government to resort to any means to subdue the public movement while affirming that AMSU, MSF and KSA would not retreat till there is substantial upheaval within the SPF fold made up of individuals with questionable commitment.
They also suggested that rather than waste time in banning student bodies, decisions should be made to dismember criminal infested IRB units as there had been numerous instances of IRB personnel's indulgence in anti-social activities.
Reacting to a news report issued by the PRO of IGAR (S), the student bodies dismissed the AR officer's comments as ridiculous, unmistakably nose-poking and a mere expressing of solidarity to personnel of State security force (commandos) who are enduring extreme embarrassment as a consequence of their involvement in the BT Road firing incident.
It is not surprising that AR would try to lift morale of the police commandos as both are partners and work in tandem in most cases of extra-judicial killing, the statement maintained while reminding that Assam Rifles' credibility is at stake in the entire North East region due to frequent involvement in rape and extermination of innocent persons.
Appealing to the heads of educational institutions not to cow down to pressure tactics employed by either by the CM or DGP, the student bodies cautioned that with the prospect of both continuing to call the shots in the state very remote it is possible they may go to any extent to dilute the movement.
Questioning why the State Government had been shying away from making its position clear on the current issue, AMSU, MSF and KSA reiterated that all attempt of the CM to misinform Central Congress leaders to remain in power would be futile.