Imphal, March 03: Even as different social organisations have called an 18 hour general strike with effect from midnight today, Chief Minister O Ibobi today informed that the Class XII and Class X examinations conducted by the Council of Higher Secondary Education, Manipur and Board of Secondary Education, Manipur will be held as scheduled.

The different organisations had earlier made it clear that the bandh will not be relaxed for the said examinations.

Speaking to newsmen at his official quarters today at about 8 pm, the Chief Minister said that in a democracy, bandhs and other form of democratic protests are allowed.

However it is also an accepted practice that essential services are exempted from the purview of any bandh or strike and appealed to the voluntary organisations to relax the bandh for the students appearing for the said examinations.

Justifying the stand of the Government, the Chief Minister said that a break in the schedule of the examination may lead to a delay in the announcement of the result which will prove detrimental to the interest of the students.

Moreover the CBSE conducted examination has also started, he noted.

The Chief Minister also cited the directives of the Supreme Court to hold the Class XII examination on time so that candidates may appear for the MBBS/BDS entrance examination, for which the timing is decided by the Medical Council of India.

The Chief Minister appealed to all the candidates and their parents and guardians to appear for the examinations tomorrow and added that tight security will be provided.

Significantly the Chief Minister announced that the examinations will not be deferred after the CHSEM had issued a statement rescheduling the exam due to the bandh.

The statement of CHSEM was broadcast by Doordarshan and other news agencies, causing confusion amongst the parents and candidates.

Announcing that the Government will get to the bottom of the matter and fix responsibilities, the Chief Minister said that a Magisterial Inquiry has been ordered to probe the Naobi incident.

If any police commando is found guilty then there will be no leniency, assured the Chief Minister and added that the Deputy Commissioner of Thoubal will conduct the inquiry.

To a question from the media, the Chief Minister replied that the report may be submitted any time and added with good effect that at the most the inquiry will take only a month.

Asked whether the police commandos will be suspended during the course of the investigation, the Chief Minister replied in the negative and added that action will be taken up according to the findings of the inquiry.

A Cabinet meeting is scheduled for tomorrow to discuss the situation, said the Chief Minister further.

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