Over three thousand students rallied in the streets of Imphal on Tuesday demanding appointment of a “native IAS officer as Chief Secretary of Manipur.” (NNN Photo)
Newmai News Network
Imphal | April 17
Over three thousand students from various schools, colleges, and institutions, and representing various student organizations, from both the hill and valley districts of Manipur, rallied in the streets of Imphal on Tuesday demanding appointment of a “native IAS officer as Chief Secretary of Manipur.”
The rally christened as “Peaceful rally demanding the appointment of native IAS officer as Chief Secretary of Manipur” was jointly organized by All Tribal Students Union (ATSUM), Democratic Students Alliance of Manipur (DESAM) and Apunba Ireipakki Maheiroi Sinpanglup (AIMS). The All Naga Students’ Association, Manipur (ANSAM) and Kuki Students’ Organisation (KSO) also took part in the protest rally.
Thousands of students marched from Adimjati School area and passed through Khongnang Ani Karak and then marched toward Khuyathong through North AOC. The students then gathered at THAU Ground where they held a public meeting.
Salam Aakash, president of DESAM, read out the rally’s declaration demanding appointment of native IAS officer as Chief Secretary of Manipur. ATSUM president Vareiyo Shatsang, DESAM president Salam Aakash and AIMS secretary general Somorjit Huidrom were among the signatories of the joint declaration of the rally.
“The historic union of student bodies of the hills and valley on the issue of the chief secretary is a movement against the legacy of neo-colonialism and discrimination,” the declaration read.
“It is for the better governance of the present and future Manipur that the issue of the ill-conceived demoralization of native IAS officers is being raised to justify that there is no dearth of potentiality from amongst the native officers,” it added.
The declaration noted that the movement for equality is gaining momentum thus strengthening the bond of brotherhood. As such, it urged the government to listen to the voice of the people “as the voice of the people is supreme.”
The rally demanded that the Manipur government take a concrete decision on the issue within the month of April, 2018.
Addressing the public, ATSUM president Vareiyo Shatsang compared the trend as the measures of neo-colonialism employed by the British while insisting that there are enough qualified native officers for the post of chief secretary.
The ATSUM President also termed the rally a “historic moment” as different student organizations from both the hills and the valley came together “to fight for a common issue.”
Former ANSAM president Seth Shatsang also lauded the students for participating in the rally which, he maintained, was “to protect our right.”
Salam Aakash, president of DESAM, informed that they have submitted a memorandum to Chief Minister N Biren on April 8 demanding the appointment of a native IAS officer as the chief secretary of Manipur. “However, the government did not pay heed,” he rued.
Later, the student bodies submitted a memorandum to the chief minister urging the government to consider their demand “in right earnest in the larger interest of all communities living in the state of Manipur.”
The student bodies in their memorandum alleged that there have been several unfair, discriminatory and hurtful decisions taken by the government in the recent past. “In doing so, a deep chasm of social uneasiness was created between the valley and the hill people,” the memorandum stated.
Alleging that the hills were left out in development while the tribal people‘s grievances unheard and ignored, the memorandum argued that they were made to feel like second class citizens “in their own State.”
With BJP coming to power in Manipur, the state government has embarked on a new course of equitable and fair development “but it needs further reinforcing and consolidation,” the memorandum maintained.
Towards this, the student bodies viewed it as “ill-advised” that the state government following the precedence set by previous governments ignored a native senior officer and appointed a junior officer to the post of the Chief Secretary.
The ATSUM, DESAM and AIMS stated that it endorses the view of many other right thinking organizations that an opportunity has been thrown upon the government to set things right.
“It is our prayer and demand that a local IAS officer in the state cadre should be given an opportunity to serve the people of the state,” the memorandum stated.
“This move will translate the mission 'Go to the Hills‘ and slogan ‘Ching Tam Amatani‘ into action and dispel the general belief that has crept into the minds of the people that Government of Manipur does not favor the tribal for any top posts in the state government given the recent history of bypassing them,” the memorandum maintained.
