Govt rejects shifting of NIT Srinagar out of Kashmir

The stalemate continued with students boycotting the classes, as the Central government on Saturday rejected demand of non-local students of NIT Srinagar for shifting the premier institute out of Valley.

A delegation of non-local protesting students of the National Institute of Technology (NIT), who met Jammu and Kashmir deputy Chief Minister Nirmal Singh, Education Minister Naeem Akhtar and officials from Union HRD ministry, demanded shifting of the engineering college to outside state, sources said.

However, they said, the demand was rejected by the HRD officials who made it clear to them that it can’t be done.

 “The HRD officials assured the students that their demands like better amenities inside the campus and improving the academic atmosphere will be addressed during meeting of board of governors of the NITs scheduled on April 11,” sources added.
The non-local students, however, continued their protest and stayed away from classes for the sixth consecutive day on Saturday.

 The protesting students also sought action against policemen who entered the NIT campus on April 4 and beat them up.

The police maintain the protesting students indulged in violence, damaging public property and roughing up a senior police officer.

The students had also held a marathon five-hour meeting with Nirmal Singh, Naeem Akhtar, NIT director Rohit Gupta, the three-member team of the Union Human Resource ministry and senior civil and police officers.