The agitation at the Manipur University has led to the stoppage of its normal functioning. The Chief Minster N Biren Singh has urged the MHRD to review the probe panel and bring back normalcy to the university.
Jayati Avram is a Writer and Political Commentator based in Manipur.[supsystic-social-sharing id=’5′]
Manipur University has been going through disturbance for quite some time now as protests have led to the suspension of the everyday activities of the university. The protesters are demanding the resignation of the Vice-Chancellor on account of misgovernance of the university.
The semester results of the university along with other everyday functions of the university have been delayed to the on-going protests. The impasse has led to the delay in the declaration of the examination results and this has implied that several colleges have been closed indefinitely.
Manipur Chief Minister N Biren Singh requested the HRD Minster Prakash Javedkar to review the fact-finding committees instituted to probe charges levelled against Manipur University VC Adya Prasad Pandey.
The Chief Minster visited Delhi and requested the HRD to address the matter. The agitators are to submit a memorandum to the President Ram Nath Kovind.
The agitators had decided not to cooperate with the committee as they alleged that it was an attempt to divert attention from their demands. The agitators asked for an independent inquiry and that no official associated with the VC in financial and administrative work should be part of the committee.
The fact finding committee that the ministry formulated had members from the UGC and the MHRD and it is going to submit its report within a month.
The students also alleged that the centre was supporting the VC and declaring them as anti-national. The protestors demand that an acting VC should be appointed for the moment.
The Manipur University crisis has led to the major activities of the university to be suspended along with classes, declaration of results, administrative functions and other events.
The entire country is witnessing protests in terms of university students whether it is Jadavpur where students recently protested against the scrapping of the entrance test, in JNU where students have been agitating against the VC since February 2016, students in FTII had protested against nepotism in university appointments and so on.
The recent movements started by students symbolise the disillusionment and unheard concerns of young people in India which the nation-state tends to neglect. The issues that are being raised by the students bring forward the urgent requirement for an aware and democratic nation-state that respects the dreams of the young.
