Educational institutions in Manipur shut for three weeks

The All Manipur Students' Union (AMSU) called for an indefinite closure of all schools and colleges on September 9, demanding resignation of Chief Minister Okram Ibobi Singh in protest against the alleged judicial killing of a youth in July.

“It is unfortunate that the government is not taking any step to break the deadlock. The future of the students is at great risk as this is the peak academic session and there are no classes for more than three weeks now,” said Aruna Devi, mother of three school going children. Angry parents are now blaming both the AMSU and the government for jeopardising the future of thousands of students.

“In the first place, the AMSU should not have dragged the students to take part in an indefinite shutdown. And it is also pathetic on the part of the government to have failed to break the deadlock three weeks after the agitation was launched,” said Moni Singh, a local businessman with two school going children.

Education minister L. Jayenta Kumar termed the decision of class boycott by the AMSU as unfortunate. “The AMSU's decision is simply unreasonable as they are holding the students to ransom by calling the shutdown,” the minister said. "We are trying our best to break the deadlock and are ready to talk with the agitating groups."

But the AMSU and other groups led by the Apunba Lup, a conglomerate of civil society groups, spearheading an agitation since July seeking resignation of the chief minister for alleged extra judicial killings, are refusing to hold talks with the government.