The Indian Express (Delhi Edition)
Fresh committee to probe NIT row
Institute administration silent on demand for hoisting of Tricolour by the PM or HRD Minister
OUTSTATION STUDENTS TAKE UNMET DEMANDS TO BJP
THE NIT-SRINAGAR administration Wednesday agreed to most of the demands made by the protestingoutstationstudents,including reconstitution of a factfinding committee with “external members”, setting up of a students’ council and improvement of infrastructure facilities. The institute authorities, however,stayedsilentonthestudents’ demand to have either the Prime Minister or HRD Minister hoist the national flag on campus to end the impasse, as also “reiterate the message that Kashmir is an integral part of India”.
The institute uploaded a list of demands accepted by the administration on its website a day after the delegation of students held a second round of talks with Nit-srinagar director Rajat Gupta and HRD Ministry officials in New Delhi. The student delegation had put forth 19 demands in the meeting.
However, the olive branch extended by Nit-srinagar is unlikely to end the impasse, as outstation students are standing firm on the demand for hoisting the Tricolour and permanent deployment of CRPF personnel on campus. They also want an immediate reshuffle of office-bearers in the institute administration.
The student delegation on Wednesday also met BJP national general secretary Kailash Vijaywargiya at the party headquarters to press their unmet demands. “We have been assured that the party will hold an internal meeting with Ram Madhav, who is the party in-charge of Jammu and Kashmir and apprise him of our demands,” said an Nit-srinagar student who attended the meeting and did not wish to identified.
It is still unclear, however, whether outstation students will rejoin classes, starting on April 25, or continue their protest in New Delhi.
Among the main demands acceptedbytheinstituteisthedecision to constitute a committee for students’ grievance redressal with two external members and submit a report by May 15. The Board of Governors of Nitsrinagar is likely to meet on May 20 to consider the setting up of a students’ council and facilitating optional external evaluation “for minor one exam, on written request and irrevocable basis”.
The institute has also agreed to improve medical facilities in three to four months, reimburse medical expenses incurred by students injured in the police lathicharge and permit celebration of all “national festivals” on the Srinagar campus.