IMPHAL: The opposition Manipur People's Party (MPP) on Monday backed the agitating teachers who are seeking implementation of revised pay as part of the Sixth Pay Commission, by submitting a memorandum to governor Gurbachan Jagat urging him to intervene in the matter.
The teachers, under the aegis of the Council of Teachers' Association (Cota), are on an indefinite fast since January 19. At least 120 teachers were detained by police on charges of attempt to suicide.
Though the court remanded them in judicial custody, more teachers have joined the stir at Keishampat junction in Imphal. The strike, however, did not affect normal classes in the government-run schools as special arrangements have been made to ensure that students were not affected.
MPP "strongly feels the urgency of bringing" the demands of the teachers to the notice to the governor in interest of people. The teachers had launched several protests before they resorted to the indefinite fast, the memorandum, signed by the party's president-in-charge Y Mangi Singh, said. Now, this agitation has become serious and intensified with the family members of the jailed teachers volunteering to join the stir.