Students during their visit to the National Sports University (NSU) site on January 24.
Newmai News Network
Senapati | January 24
The All Naga Students’ Association, Manipur (ANSAM) has demanded that the government addresses the National Sports University (NSU) site issue at the earliest. “We feel that a responsible government must hear and respond promptly towards the genuine demands made by Konsakhul Area Joint Action Committee (KAJAC) and “address their grievances befittingly”.
While welcoming the National Sports University in the state, ANSAM, in a press release on Sunday, cautioned that the state government should no longer remain "confused" over the land ownership of the said university and act accordingly without further delay by "conceding to the legitimate demands" of Konsakhul Area Joint Action Committee.
The statement then said that ANSAM visited the site of National Sports University on Sunday. According to ANSAM, the visiting team comprised of leaders from Senapati District Students’ Association (SDSA), All Inpui Students’ union, Rongmei Naga Students’ Organization, Manipur (RNSOM), Zeme Naga Students Organization, Manipur and Liangmai Naga Students’ Organization (LNKR) to witness and take the stock of situation on the ongoing construction of National Sports University in Konsaram/ Konsakhul a Liangmai Naga village.
ANSAM then said the visiting team also had a brief meeting with the members of Konsakhul Village Authority, leaders of students/youth and women unions and members of KAJAC at their local church premises.
“The Konsakhul village is the legitimate traditional landowner of the project site of the National Sports University. The said village land Schedule is bounded in the East – Senjam Chirang; West – Samuk; North – Karakhun; South –Koutruk,” stated the Naga student body. “However, to the contrary, the Ministry of Youth Affairs & Sports, Government of India along with the state government has initiated construction of National Sports University, Manipur, at Konsakhul village mischievously without the prior consent from the landowner,” it alleged, adding, “This act of total disregard to the actual landowner is nothing but an act of suppression and oppression over the weaker section by the government who is supposed to support and protect them”. ANSAM also said that this amounted to cross violation of citizens’ fundamental rights and the tribals’ rights of the people living in the hill areas of Manipur.
ANSAM then said it was shocked to learn the “apathetic attitude” of the state government over the rightful claims and demands made by the villagers and Konsakhul Area Joint Action Committee (KAJAC) to acknowledge the ownership by demanding to change the nomenclature and documentation of National Sports University to National Sports University, Konsakhul, Manipur. It asserted that Konsakhul village should be recognised as a primary stakeholder and should be made a signatory in all the deeds and agreements related to the said land.
