NIT Srinagar Students Want Modi to Hoist Tricolour on Campus

The outstation students have also demanded an enquiry against the suspects and CRPF presence in the campus.

Indian paramilitary soldiers stand guard near the main gate of the NIT, Srinagar in Indian controlled Kashmir, Thursday, 7 April 2016. (Photo: AP)

Outstation students from the National Institute of technology (NIT) in Srinagar, Kashmir have demanded that the national flag be hoisted in the campus by either Prime Minister Narendra Modi or Human Resource Development Minister Smriti Irani.

Also read: How a Cricket Match Brought About a Crisis in NIT Srinagar

The demand was made after Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti announced that the campus will not be shifted from Srinagar.

Security personnel guard the entrance to the NIT Srinagar on 7 April 2016. (Photo: AP)

In a letter to Irani, the students made 18 other demands including:

• Enquiry against “suspects” in the recent incidents of violence
  
• Reimbursement of medical bills of injured students
  
• Permanent deployment of CRPF on the campus
  
• Reshuffle of college administration
  
• Formation of Students’ Council
  
• Option of outside evaluation of exam mark-sheets
  
• Celebration of national festivals at NIT Srinagar
  

It reads:

We request either the Hon’ble minister of HRD or the Prime Minister of India to come with students to NIT Srinagar and hoist full-size Tiranga in the campus at its highest mast. This will end the leave taken by students and also give them a sense of security. This will reiterate the message that Kashmir is an integral part of India and students will have a psychological win over the anti-national elements in the campus as well as outside.

Also read: Over 1,000 Non-Kashmiri Students Leave NIT Srinagar Campus

Students protest against police action in NIT Srinagar on 7 April 2016. (Photo: AP)

The letter was presented by student representatives during a three-hour meeting with the director of the institute Rajat Gupta. Director of NIT at the HRD Ministry, Sanjeev Kumar Sharma was also present.

We have presented our demands and hope that the ministry will take action to create a suitable environment.

Swayam, Part of Student Delegation

Last week, the students had met HRD minister Smriti Irani, who ruled out the shifting of the NIT campus but assured support in academic matters.

Also read: NIT Srinagar Students Hold Protests, Demand Shifting of Campus

What Happened at NIT Srinagar?

NIT Srinagar has been at the centre of a controversy since 1 April when clashes broke out between outstation and local students following India’s defeat to West Indies in the World Cup T20 semi-final.

The situation worsened on 5 April when outstation students tried to march outside the campus but were stopped by the police, leading to incidents of violence including vandalism by students and a lathicharge by police.