Morung Express News
Dimapur | August 7
Following the JEE debacle and evidently not contented with ‘delivery of justice’ by re-accommodating aggrieved candidates, frontline Naga students’ organizations led by the NSF, have begun intensifying their demand for removal of Education Minister Imkong L Imchen from the Council of Ministers. In the fray besides the NSF are the All Nagaland College Students Union (ANCSU) and the Western Sumi Students Union (WSSU).
An evidently exasperated Naga Students Federation (NSF) today demanded a “review of tenure” of Education Minister Imchen on moral grounds and misuse of power and towards this end, the NSF has now set an ultimatum for the same on or before August 25. “The chief Minister should review the tenure of the concern minister for misuse of power and on moral ground and as a case of office of profit on or before the 25th of August, 2006. Failing to do the needful within stipulated time, the Federation shall resort to its own course of action” warned an NSF statement issued through Vice-President Imchatoba Imchen and Secretary of NSF Public Grievances Cell, Worthing Horam.
The ultimatum was decided at an emergency meeting of the NSF Executive Monday on the JEE/MBBS selection issue. The NSF took serious note of what was stated as arrogance of Minister Imchen in owning responsibility for his act. “While appreciating the Government for the withdrawal of the MBBS seats to two unqualified candidates and the subsequent allotment of seats to the deserving merit students, the Federation express dismay over the arrogance of the concern minister in owning responsibility” the Federation stated. In this regard the NSF also reiterated its earlier representation submitted to the Chief Minister on August 3: that the tenure of the Minister be reviewed on grounds of misuse of power and on moral grounds; that the Minister tender unconditional apology to the public for the “damage done”; the NSF also strongly questioned the integrity of the Information Technology & Technical Education Department for ‘losing’ the procedures of the selections and failing to ensure justice. The Federation set (on or before) August 25, as the ultimatum dateline for fulfillment of the above.
The Western Sumi Students Union (WSSU) also cautioned that the ‘temporary’ suspension of the proposed NH-39 closure on August 7 should not be viewed as reflecting abandonment of the demands that the Minister step down and also tendering of unconditional apology as forwarded by the Highway Area Students Union (HASSU). According to the union, the suspension of the proposed bandh was decided upon only because it was agreed that the WSSU would pursue the matter to its logical end. “Therefore, it is to be noted that the WSSU shall pursue the issue until and unless Mr Imkong L Imchen, Minister of IT & TE unconditionally tender his apology of his disgraceful act to the Naga people and that the DAN Ministry under the leadership of Chief Minister Neiphiu Rio drop Mr Imkong L Imchen from the Ministry on moral ground” the WASSU demanded.
Referring to the silence of the DAN government on the JEE issue, the union also took strong exception that the “cabinet is convinced by the misdeeds” of the minister.
“The WSSU demands immediate clarification from the government of Nagaland so as to justify the slogan ‘people-friendly government’ as declared by the NPF-led DAN government” stated the union through it’s president Shikahoto Zhimomi and General Secretary Kaino Chishi.
Also, in a separate statement, the All Nagaland College Students Union (ANCSU) issued through President Chichamo Kikon, said: “It is very much discouraging to know that our Minister who had been elected to office of authority for the welfare of the Naga society and a person looked upon as a ‘father-figure’ by the students’ community turned out to be step-fatherly” stated the union condemning the misuse of power by the minister. “We would like to appeal to our state government to see that the concern minister should step down from his designated post on moral ground and such anomalies and act of nepotism must be never committed which spoils the careers of the students” stated the union even as it appreciated the government for re-allocating the two aggrieved JEE students.
