Anti-national activities intolerable

The secessionist activity by local Kashmiri students on the Campus of NIT, Srinagar, is an anti-national act and it must be dealt with a heavy hand. There have been disturbances in the academic environment of NIT Srinagar due to the raising of voices against the nation on the campus by local Kashmiri students. It becomes more so deplorable when they get support from some of the faculty members. The way local students rejoiced at the victory of West Indies team in the semi final match of T20 World Cup on March 31 over India clearly shows anti-India feeling among the local Kashmiri students. Local Kashmiri students not only celebrated the victory of West Indies but also humiliated, demoralized and beat the students from other states studying in the Engineering College. The tension on the campus had been brewing since March 31, the day of semifinal match. To protest the highhandedness of local students with backing from some of the faculty members, outstation students decided to meet the media to tell the nation and the govt. how they are treated and behaved at Srinagar NIT. To stop the students from coming out of the Campus, Srinagar police entered and lathi charged mercilessly. Hands and legs of several students were broken and some of them also suffered grievous injuries. First of all, police must not be allowed to enter academic institution, especially of Srinagar NIT standard. The head of the institutions and faculty members should have mollified the bruised feeling of outstation students. It is also their responsibility not to allow any Kashmiri students to vent their anti-India feeling on the college campus. The action of Srinagar police is unjustified and uncalled for. It is also the responsibility of the state govt. to keep law and order under control. Jammu and Kashmir is already a trouble-torn state of the nation. Pakistan has been sponsoring terrorism in the state for several decades. So, any lapses on the part of state and central govts to curb the anti-national feeling, which has started growing on campus of NIT, cost dearly for the nation. It is good that Union HRD ministry has taken prompt step by sending two-member team, which is in NIT Campus in Srinagar, talks to the students after tension erupted at the NIT campus in Srinagar on the 31st March when local students clashed with outstation students. Those students who are willing to appear for exams later, will be given a chance later.HRD Minister Smriti Irani is to visit Srinagar on April 13. There are 31 NITs all over the nation and the NIT of Srinagar is one of the oldest ones. Students from all over the nation come to pursue their study in NIT, Srinagar. It is the responsibility of Central and state govt. to maintain its academic standard and reputation. Because reports have appeared in the media that outstation students are threatened by none other than some of the faculties with destroying their academic career. So, HRD ministry team must also probe this aspect of the allegation made by outstation students against the faculty members. The Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti has also assured the central govt. of giving serious consideration to the matter followed by swift action. The Centre is keeping close tabs on the situation in Srinagar following the police lathi charge on the National Institute of Technology students in Jammu and Kashmir capital.