Newmai News Network
Imphal | July 12
Manipur Chief Minister, O. Ibobi Singh today warned that legal action would be taken against those behind the campaign for burning of school text books and affiliation of schools in Manipur to the Nagaland Board of Secondary Education. Talking to reporters informally after a passing out parade of IRB riflemen at Pangei inImphal East today, the chief minister said that his government is closely monitoring the situation in the districts after the burning of the text books by Naga students. The All Naga Students Association, Manipur (ANSAM) supervised burning of thousands of text books prescribed by Board of Secondary Education Manipur in Ukhrul, Chandel, Tamenglong and Senapati district on Monday for replacing the Manipur books with those prescribed by the NBSE.
Ibobi Singh government did not make any attempt to prevent burning of the books, though the ANSAM announced the programme well in advance. ANSAM said it was a part of the movement for unification of all the Naga inhabited areas under one administrative unit.
The chief minister said that he is monitoring the situation very closely however; no action has been taken against those involved in the arson till now. This is to avoid further complications of things, he said. “The government has received reports that some NGOs are threatening the guardians, students and the management of private schools,” said Ibobi Singh adding, “the guardians and schools do not support the movement for teaching of Nagaland board text books in Manipur schools. They are only complying out of fear”. He said that the government would be watching the development for some more time. If things go out of hands the government would take legal action against the students and individuals behind the campaign so as to bring the situation under control.
He also said that the state chief secretary Jarnail Singh is constantly in touch with his Nagaland counterpart to discuss the development in the Manipur hill districts. Ibobi said the affiliation of Manipur schools to Nagland board is impossible as Nagaland board is meant for schools in that state only. Pointing out that the campaign for Nagaland text books in the four hill districts will only result in ruining the career of the students the chief minister appealed to Naga organizations to reconsider their decision regarding the text books.
Replying to a question Ibobi Singh denied the allegations that Neiphiu Rio government has been instigating Naga NGOs of Manipur.
The United Committee Manipur (UCM) severely criticized the Ibobi Singh government for failing to bring the situation under control in the four hill districts. In a statement the UCM said that lack of administration in the hill districts turned the situation from bad to worse.
.jpg)
