"MU agitators should withdraw their agitations"
Date :: 9th August, 2018 , Imphal

Maintaining that the post of the Vice-Chancellor of Manipur University is not permanent and is neither the heirloom of any individual but the present state of sad affairs that has seen more than two months of agitation thus imperiling the careers of ten and thousands of students on the question of the removal of the present VC Pandey is simply unacceptable.

Why should the students of the state be sacrifice at the altar for the sake of one person whereas the agitators should have resorted to other forms of agitation which would have killed the snake and also spare the stick. But the present state of affairs dictates that neither the snake is killed nor the stick is saved. So in the interest of all the students’ community whose career had already been jeopardized the agitators should withdraw their agitations immediately and let normal academic chores be resumed.

The Varsity community should realize that the evolving development had clearly shown that this issue if procrastinated any further, have the potential to snowball into Hill versus Valley issue as the stance of both the community on the removal of Pandey is diametrically opposite. So as to avert such unwarranted situation the agitators should open the University immediately.

The Joint Tribal Students Bodies, Manipur had launched an agitation in the first week of July demanding for the immediate opening of the varsity but there was deafening silence and no voices of support could be heard from the frontal organisations of the tribals. Rather our volunteers were hounded and hunted for fighting for a cause we assumed was right and sacrosanct for the tribal community of the state.

While appreciating the 48 Hours general strike launch by All Tribal Students’ Union Manipur (ATSUM), Kuki Students' Organization, General Headquarters (KSO-GHQ) and All Naga Students' Association Manipur (ANSAM) for resolving the Manipur University imbroglio the joint student bodies opined that intervention at this moment when the crisis is drawing to its fag end and while solution is in the offing, is case of too little too late.

What was ATSUM doing for the past seventy days while the agitation was reaching the flash point? Had ATSUM intervened at the nascent stage and had rallied all the tribal students’ organisation of Manipur the issue could have been nip in the bud thus salvaging the career of thousands of students. Sadly, ATSUM was scarce when the issue was burning and jumping to the fray at the dying moment shows that something is really fishy.

The Joint Tribal Students Bodies keeping in mind the importance of opening Manipur University at the earliest decided not oppose the present agitation launched by ATSUM but will neither endorse the agitation that is being launch in deference of ATSUM status and standing.

Sd/-
(Thangtinlen Haokip)
Spokesperson
Joint Tribal Student Bodies, Manipur