IMPHAL, June 22 - The Manipur University Staff Association (MUSA) today took out a silent rally and also staged a sit-in demonstration within the university campus at Canchipur here.
Meanwhile, Joint Secretary in the Union Ministry of Human Resource Development GC Hosur has called on Chief Minister N Biren Singh to discuss the situation arising out of the ongoing crisis at the Manipur University.
During the the sit-in demonstration near the traffic island located within the varsity campus, the MUSA members held placards which read �Let�s save Manipur University�, �We love Manipur University�, �Let�s save employees�, and demanded immediate end to the ongoing crisis in the university.
MUSA president S Jibonkumar told reporters that the ongoing agitation by the students of the university has not only hampered the academic atmosphere but also hit other activities of the university. The shutdown of the administrative block and the Vice Chancellor�s office since the beginning of the agitation has also affected the functioning of the non-teaching staff.
It may be mentioned here that the Manipur University Students� Union (MUSU) has been on an agitation since May 24, demanding removal of the Vice Chancellor, Prof Adya Prasad Pandey. The student body intensified the stir on May 31 by clamping an indefinite shutdown of the campus. The MUSU is alleging that Prof Pandey has failed to take any initiative for the development of the institution, leaving the university in a paralysed state.
�We have been suffering a lot due to the current situation at the university,� the MUSA president said, adding that the university staff would urge the authorities concerned to bring about an amicable solution by June 30 or call for the resignation of the VC on moral grounds to save the university.
The secretary of the Communist Party of India (CPI), Manipur State Council, L Sotinkumar said party leaders D Raja and Sudhakar Reddy in Delhi have been informed about the developments in the Manipur University, and that they (the duo) are likely to meet the Prime Minister and the Human Resource Development Minister in this connection. The Manipur CPI unit has also demanded removal of the university VC.
