IMPHAL: Several rallies and sit-in demonstrations were organized across the state on Monday in demand of resumption of normal classes at Manipur University . Regular operations at the university have been on hold since May 30 over a protest by agitating students and teachers of the university against alleged financial and administrative irregularities committed by vice-chancellor Adya Prashad Pandey. Adamant in their demand that the VC be removed, they are currently staging a relay hunger strike on the campus.Many rallyists held placards saying 'Open MU immediately', 'We want peace and development', 'We hate bandhs and blockades', 'Don't play politics in MU' and 'Punish Pandey if found guilty'. A fracas broke out between participants of a rally and agitating MU students at the varsity campus at Canchipur in Imphal West on Monday. Police resorted to firing tear gas shells to disperse the crowd, injuring six people.At Naga-dominated Senapati district, a rally against the prolonged shutdown at MU was held under the aegis of the Senapati District Students' Association (SDSA). A banner saying, 'There is no place for politics and corruption in educational institutions' was seen here.Similar rallies organised by student bodies of Tangkhul community were also staged at the Ukhrul district headquarters. Rallies were also organised in the hill districts of Kangpokpi, Chandel, Churachandpur and Tamenglong. Rallies were also organised in different parts of the valley, with at least five being staged across Imphal. Rallies and sit-in demonstrations were also organised in different parts of Thoubal and Bishnupur districts.Alleging that the rallies on Monday were backed by the BJP, the general secretary of the agitating MU Students' Union (MUSU), L Kenedy, flayed the government for allowing the rallies when prohibitory orders under section 144 CrPC had already been clamped in the whole of Imphal West district . "When a silent protest rally seeking Pandey's ouster was recently foiled by the police by virtue of such prohibitory orders, the government has allowed today's widespread rallies. We suspect the government had a hand in organising today's rallies," Kenedy said.Congress also accused the BJP-led government of sponsoring the rallies. Senior Congress leader NG Bijoy Singh said while the state government had prevented opposition parties from taking out a solidarity rally in support of the MU demand a few days ago because prohibitionary orders under Cr Pc 144 were imposed in Imphal West, it allowed today's rallies.The BJP said it has nothing to do with Monday's public rallies. "They have come out of their own will demanding a settlement to the prolonged impasse at MU and creation of an academic atmosphere there," said BJP Manipur unit general secretary N Nimbus Singh.Meanwhile, W Vishwanath Singh, the seniormost professor of MU, on Monday took over as VC-in-charge in principle. Official sources said he is likely to enter his office soon after the situation at the varsity returns to normal. An order issued by the varsity's registrar-in-charge on Thursday, issued under the advice of the Union human resources development ministry, asked Pandey to go on leave for a month and directed Vishwanath to perform duties of the VC.

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