Dimapur, August 1 (MExN): A host of frontline organizations have warned of serious consequences if the state government fails to ‘wake from its slumber’ and look into the recent Joint Entrance Examination (JEE) debacle where a merit-student was denied a seat to accommodate two JEE-failed students, one of whom is a son of a minister in the DAN government.
The All Sumi Students’ Union (SKK), the Dimapur Naga Students Union (DNSU), Highway Area Sumi Students’ Union (HASSU) and the Rashtriya Janata Dal (Y) have responded strongly to the silence of the government over the issue. Both the RJD (Y) and HASSU have demanded that Education Minister Imkong Imchen step down while others have warned of various own action should the government fails to take action in the matter.
The apex Sumi students’ organization, the SKK, demanded that the DAN government take immediate and appropriate disciplinary action against the minister for his “illegal action”. Evidently peeved at the silence maintained by the government over the issue, the SKK warned that in the event the aggrieved candidate Niuto S Chishi fails to get admission in medical colleges, the body would be forced to launch an indefinite economic blockade in different National Highways and State Highways passing through Sumi regions. “The SKK views seriously over the silence maintained by the state government and some students’ organization in this matter as if the JEE Selection Board headed by the Minister had done justice. In connection with the recent anomalies reported in the JEE, MBBS selection, the SKK appeals to the DAN government to immediately take appropriate disciplinary action against its Minister Imkong Imchen for his illegal action” demanded a statement issued by SKK President Hetoi Chishi and General Secretary K Himahito Chishi, and warned that the blockades would be launched. “The SKK may be compelled to launch an indefinite economic blockades in different National Highways and state highways passing through the Sumi-inhabited areas in case the deserving candidate fails to get admission in medical colleges” it warned.
The RJD (Y) also condemned the reported act of nepotism and favoritism in the JEE selections and demanded that Minister Imchen step down. “The chairman of the JEE Selection Board and also an elected member should own responsibility in this act of irregularity and gracefully step down from the post he holds and let other more efficient leader take responsibility of such an important post” stated an RJD (Y) statement issued through its president Hekiye Murrumi. “The RJD (Y) Nagaland State once again reiterates its support to the deprived candidate and also stand firm against such act of irregularities which is prevailing in our society” it added while calling upon all sections of the society to condemn the JEE malpractices.
The DNSU also warned that if the government fails to clarify and take necessary action on the JEE issue, it would be forced to stand “tooth and nail” for the welfare of the students’ community since, it said, students have been made the ultimate victims time and again. Strongly condemning the malpractice, the DNSU through its president Obed Quinker and Secretary of Education & Statistics Y Ahoi Yepthomi forwarded certain points to the concern authority for clarification: In what manner were the seat allocations for various professional/vocational/technical studies from the state quota are being done; that could an individual procure seat to the state-sponsored quota which is meant for all citizens of the state, through other means; what are the valid grounds on which a candidate may be forfeited from the allotted priority and finally, on what factors was Niuto S Chishi denied the already declared MBBS seat. The DNSU sternly warned that in the event clarifications to the above queries are not given, it would be forced to stand “tooth and nail” for the students’ community.
Meanwhile the HASSU, maintaining that Minister Imchen misused his position by manipulating records and merit-list, depriving Niuto S Chishi of his seat, has submitted an ultimatum to the Chief Minister that Imchen be removed on moral grounds for his “unconstitutional and anti-student, anti-people act”. The HASSU also demanded an unconditional apology from the Minister himself to Niuto S Chishi. The HASSU ultimatum informed the Chief Minister that failure on the part of the government to fulfill the demands on or before August 4, would invite no other option but to resort to strikes and bandhs. It may be mentioned here that the HASSU had warned it would close down National Highway 39.
