Manipur University acting VC's comment on Governor 'unfortunate': Raj Bhavan

The Manipur University's acting Vice Chancellor's remarks that state Governor Najma Heptulla extended "overt support" to agitators during a recent stir at the varsity has not gone down well with Raj Bhavan authorities who termed the comments as "unfortunate".

In a communication to Prof K Yugindro Saturday, the Raj Bhavan said his statement made on October 3 in a letter to the Union Ministry of Human Resource Development, may amount to defamation as well as non-observance of protocol and propriety.

"The Hon'ble governor is upset and surprised by your utterances which are misdirected and misleading...The governor was naturally disturbed and concerned with all that was happening on the campus, causing academic loss to thousands of students," the Raj Bhavan communique said.

Yugindro, in his letter to the MHRD, had sought immediate steps from the Centre to "save" the university from the hands of "terrorists-like" agitators.

"I would like to request the Centre to do the needful immediately in order to save the University from the hands of terrorists like agitators...," he had said in his letter.

The Saturday communication from the Raj Bhawan said, "The governor feels it very unfortunate that you used the term 'terrorist' in the context of students and teachers, and such indiscretion will lead to further worsening of the situation on the campus,"

Yugindro had claimed that Heptulla questioned his taking charge as VC of the central university and expressed her support in favour of the agitators, during a meeting on September 21.

The university has been on the boil for several months. After an 85-day strike by students, it had opened on August 23. The agitators had been demanding the removal of the then VC AP Pandey for alleged administrative and financial lapses.

President Ram Nath Kovind, in his capacity as the Visitor of the university, recently placed Pandey under suspension as an inquiry was underway into the allegations of irregularities against him.

Yugindro was appointed as the acting VC soon after the suspension of Pandey.

(With inputs from agencies.)