
Morung Express News
November 22
DIMAPUR: The Cabinet Memorandum April 2 2001 and the Written Agreement between the Lumami village landowners and the Nagaland University signed in May 28, 2002 might be reviewed by the State government according to highly placed sources. It was informed that considering ‘some inconsistencies’ in ‘some’ of the clauses, the agreements would be considered for review if the ongoing impasse between the two sides continue.
The Governor could not be contacted for comment. However Professor GD Sharma, Vice-Chancellor of NU told The Morung Express that he had met the concerned Minister and the Governor to discuss the issue and also letters were written to both the Chief Minister as well as the Chief Secretary for a joint sitting. Alluding to a possible review of the agreements, Professor Sharma said that “It (Agreements) might be reviewed since we feel we are giving too much while they (landowners) are getting too much.” He added that the impasse cannot continue since it was the students who were suffering due to the agitation called by the landowners.
IK Sema, Spokesman for the Landowners, reacted by saying that the NU was actually sidestepping their commitment. “NU is running away from their commitment. The Government has nothing to do with it. “The problem started when the University started random selection and awarding pay scale and appointments” Sema said adding that it was now up to the NU authorities. Sema also denied that the landowners had forced the university’s closure and refuted reports that the agitation was being called off. “We have not yet decided. Till now we have no response from the NU,” he said. Although authorities and media reports had earlier maintained that the early closure of the university was to compensate “for the loss of classes” students at the Lumami campus remains unconvinced. Reports say that students are being harassed by the landowners and issuing verbal threats from attending classes.
PGSU President, Along Chingkem said that the decision to close the university for the year was a collective one. Lamenting that the students were the worst affected, Along said that the move was to create conducive atmosphere where the two sides could negotiate. He added that it was better for students to go home rather than remain in campus. It may be mentioned that as reported earlier in this paper, landowners had forced the closure of the Administration block, library and cut off water supply as well as withdrawn the cooks and other grade III & IV grade employees, which led to discontinuation of regular classes for the last two weeks.