MU authorities, tribal students lock horns on reservation issue

Imphal, Oct 24 (UNI) Manipur University (MU) officials and the tribal students are at loggerheads over the reservation issue as the authorities had not agreed to the stdents' demand of no further recruitment until an amicable solution was reached on the tribals reservation issue.

The tribal students demand 34 per cent reservation as tribal population in the state is 34 per cent.

The MU, a Central University following Central norms, provides seven per cent reservation for STs.

MU officials said only the Central government could take a decision on the matter and Chief Minister O Ibobi Singh had led a delegation to New Delhi to urge the Union Human Resource Development Ministry to consider the demands of the tribal students.

The tribal students, under the aegis of the All Tribal Students Union Manipur (ATSUM) and Manipur University Tribal Students Union (MUTSU), have launched a stir.

MUTSU president Sonthang Haokip said Governor Gurbhachan Jagat was briefed on the reservation issue.

About 650 tribal students had left the University campus on October 6 as they ''no longer felt safe and secure''.

The student unions also demanded removal of the vice-chancellor and registrar, amendment of Manipur University Act, 2005, and incorporate a special provision to ensure 34.2 per cent reservation for STs at all levels i.e. for the teaching and non-teaching staff in the University as per the existing reservation pattern of the Manipur government.

They appealed to the Governor to immediately intervene to resolve the impasse.

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