Imphal, October 25 (MExN): In the continuing impasse on Scheduled Tribe (ST) Reservation in Manipur University, the Supreme House of the Hmar people, the Hmar Inpui, today stated that it “fully supports” the current movement spearheaded by the All Tribal Students’ Union Manipur (ATSUM) and its constituent members. The Inpui, in this regard, appealed to the Manipur University authorities to “come to their senses” and take positive steps urgently to avoid any further unfortunate incidences. In a statement made available to the media, the apex body of all Hmar Civil Society and Community based organisations stated that it has been observing the current issue “hoping against hope” that the University authority in collaboration with the Government will bring an amicable end to the impasse by following the Central Government and University Grants Commission directives to implement the CEI (Reservation in Admission) Amendment Act 2012. However, the Inpui lamented, that hope has been “dashed” by recent events, the latest being the violent suppression of agitating tribal students in front of the MU gate on October 24 and the actions of the Vice-Chancellor (VC) in-charge. “The apathetic attitude of the University authorities and the derisive declaration of the MU VC in-charge Professor Amar Yumnam that the reservation norms chosen by the Academic Council meeting on October 8 would be followed in Manipur University for the academic session 2016-17 which is in direct contravention to the Central Government directive has made an already fragile situation worse,” the Inpui viewed. The Inpui interpreted the order of the VC in-charge to go ahead with admission process for Academic Session 2016-17 from October 24 without any resolution in the reservation impasse as “being scornful to the legitimate demand of the tribal students”. It condemned in the “strongest terms” the attitude of not only the University authority but the behaviour of some of the state forces to “insidiously instigate” and coax the otherwise peaceful but emotionally charged agitators to “committing certain ‘mistakes’ so as to warrant a violent suppression”. “It is most unfortunate that the State Police, meant to keep the peace, are now skilful emotional manipulators,” the Hmar Inpui statement rued. Insisting that “arbitrary and unwarranted subjugation” of a democratic voice has now become a “trademark” of the Manipur State Government, the Inpui lamented that it has “unfortunately” been copied by the “unlikeliest” institution – "A Central University which is supposed to be a centre of positive learning and the centre-point for imbibing democratic and responsible governance.” The Hmar Inpui strongly questioned why the state government and Manipur University authorities are “so hell-bent in avoiding amicable negotiations and dialogues with agitators - past and present but at the same time so keen in the deaths of peaceful dialogues and negotiations.” Citing numerous debates on why the hills and valleys should not be separated or vice-versa, the Inpui questioned, “Why should there not be an acute trust deficit?” “Why should the tribal students of Manipur not be apprehensive about the intent and intention of the Manipur University authorities when they are deprived of even our legally sanctioned basic rights to free and fair education?” it further asked. “When even such basic rights are blatantly hijacked, then it is no wonder that the state is inundated with tensions, mistrusts, fights, highly controversial Bills and Acts that infringe upon the rights of the tribal people both covertly and overtly,” it maintained. Justice served to the whole, when it cannot be served to a few, “is just another harsh belie,” the Inpui insisted and termed the decision of the VC in-charge as being “probably influenced by some clandestine agendas.” “For the shallow, short-sighted and selfish actions of a few individuals, it appears Manipur and its beautiful peoples are doomed to live a life of strife, distrust and painful separations,” the Inpui maintained.