The Hindu : National : Do not vitiate academic atmosphere: Ibobi Singh

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Friday, Sep 10, 2004

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National

Do not vitiate academic atmosphere: Ibobi Singh

By Our Correspondent

IMPHAL, SEPT. 9. The Manipur Chief Minister, Okram Ibobi Singh, has appealed to all concerned not to vitiate the academic atmosphere in the State. He said the prolonged closure of educational institutions had affected students.

Students' organisations had called for the closure of all educational institutions saying there was "no meaning in attending classes" while the State was burning and there was no protection to human lives.

Textbooks surrendered

According to the heads of some institutions, the colleges were open and the teachers were present in full strength. Since the students were boycotting the classes, there was nothing much to be done.

Students have intensified their protests demanding the withdrawal of the Armed Forces (Special Powers) Act, 1958 (AFPSA), from the State. Many converged near the Raj Bhavan and the office of the Chief Minister to surrender their textbooks, while others made a bonfire of them near the residences of Ministers.

However, Mr. Ibobi Singh has made it clear that there was no question of withdrawing the Act from the entire State.

The experimental withdrawal of the Act from the seven Assembly constituencies in Imphal has also been done away with.

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