Manipur University impasse: Protesters revoke stand to suspend strike, allege breach of agreement

On Friday, the HRD ministry issued an order reconstituting a two-member enquiry committee to probe the allegations against incumbent vice-chancellor Prof. Adya Prasad Pandey. The committee headed by former acting Chief Justice of Meghalaya High Court, T. Nandakumar and M.K Choudhary, former vice-chancellor of Tezpur University as a member is to submit its report within a month.

The agitating varsity community has alleged the HRD ministry violated the agreements. “The university community were utterly shocked by the blatant violation of the agreements reached upon”, Debananda Ningthoujam, spokespersons Manipur University Teachers’ Association (MUTA).

The constituted two-member committee not only conveniently dropped the term ‘Independent’ but also left out discussing the contentious issue of Prof Pandey’s leave, said the MUTA spokesperson.

As the order for reconstituting the fact-finding committee clearly violates the agreement between the varsity community and the state and central government, the former will not abide its commitment of suspending the ongoing agitation, he opined.

Lack of mention about Pandey’s leavy by the fact-finding committee has led to an apprehension that he will resume his official duty forcedly after ending his private leave which was taken on August 2, said the spokesperson.

Manipur University Students’ Union (MUSU) president, M. Dayaman said that a marathon meeting for three consecutive days was held with HRD joint secretary, G.C. Hosur on one side and Manipur Govt officials on the other in the presence of Manipur Chief Minister.

The non-honouring of the items of agreement amounts to insulting all of us including the Chief Minister of Manipur, he alleged.

He said the varsity community strongly hopes that the chief minister will appraise to the Centre to declare Saturday’s order null and void and a new order based on the terms of the agreement signed shall be passed taking into consideration, careers of students.

The MUSU launched its protest demanding the removal of Prof. AP Pandey on May 30, alleging the latter of committing administrative and financial irregularities in the campus. The teachers’ association later joined the protest. However, Prof. AP Pandey denied all the charges levelled against him as baseless.